District of Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland – On October 22, 2021, U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Gibran Nelson-Smith, age 41, of Pikesville, Maryland, to 19 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of heroin, and crack cocaine, as well as quantities of cocaine and fentanyl.  

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; Chief Lisa Meyers of the Howard County Police Department; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, from at least 2015 through March 2019, Nelson-Smith conspired with others to distribute large quantities of heroin and crack cocaine, as well as cocaine and fentanyl, in and around Baltimore. Nelson-Smith exercised a supervisory role in the conspiracy, meeting with co-conspirators to provide the narcotics and resupplying the narcotics throughout the day.  Nelson-Smith also collected the drug proceeds from the distributors.

On at least one occasion between November 2018 and February 2019, law enforcement conducted several controlled purchases from Nelson-Smith.  On at least one occasion, law enforcement thought Nelson-Smith was selling heroin, but the lab results indicated that the drugs were a combination of heroin and fentanyl. 

As part of his plea agreement, Nelson-Smith admitted that he endorsed the use of firearms by members of the organization to maintain security in the areas where drugs were being sold, and also endorsed the use or threatened use of violence by members of the organization to protect the drug sales activities of the organization.  In January 2019, law enforcement received surveillance footage dated May 25, 2018, in which Nelson-Smith appears to brandish a firearm in the alley next to the “White House” located in the 3900 block of Dorchester Road in Baltimore, where Nelson-Smith operated.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Nelson-Smith’s residence on April 4, 2019, and recovered a .40-caliber pistol; a magazine for the pistol; at least 75 rounds of various caliber ammunition; cash; approximately 11 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl; approximately 46 grams of crack cocaine; approximately 251 grams of cocaine; and drug paraphernalia, including packaging material and digital scales; eight cellular phones; two tablet computers; and a laptop.

Nelson-Smith agrees that over the course of the conspiracy, he and his conspirators distributed at least a kilogram of heroin, at least a kilogram of crack cocaine, at least 250 grams of cocaine, and at least 10 grams of fentanyl. 

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 HSI, the Howard County Police Department, the Baltimore Police Department, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joan C. Mathias and Patrick G. Selwood, 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 Ellen L. Hollander today sentenced Matthew Curtis and Tyler Curtis, ages 24, both of Hampstead, Maryland, each to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 18 years and 17 years of supervised release, respectively, for possession of child pornography. Judge Hollander ordered that, upon their release from prison, the defendants must continue to register as sex offenders in the places where they reside, where they are employees, and where they are students, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). 

The twin brothers were previously convicted of child pornography-related charges in 2017 within the Circuit Court of Carroll County. Specifically, Tyler Curtis was previously convicted of the promotion and distribution of child pornography and was subsequently required to register as a sex offender. Matthew Curtis was convicted of possession of child pornography and was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and three years’ probation. He then was required to register as a sex offender.

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; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees, and Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins.

“Thankfully, the Curtis brothers will spend the next decade in federal prison for their extensive and disturbing conduct.” stated United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron. “This office will continue to aggressively protect our children and relentlessly prosecute those who perpetuate child exploitation.”

According to their plea agreements, from 2019 to 2020, Tyler and Matthew Curtis downloaded, possessed, and distributed child pornography while on state probation for their previous convictions for child pornography related charges.  Furthermore, Matthew Curtis used an internet-based messaging application to repeatedly share depictions of prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct with other users of the application.

On March 5, 2020, the cloud-based service submitted a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Specifically, the service reported that a user account had uploaded 22 files of suspected child pornography. Images included the sexual abuse of prepubescent children. The IP address used to login to the cloud-based application was assigned to the defendants’ Hampstead residence and the email address was an address used by Matthew Curtis.

The investigation revealed that within messaging chatrooms, Matthew Curtis frequently posed as the mother of an infant or toddler and discussed the sexual abuse of his purported children. Matthew Curtis also distributed images documenting the sexual abuse of what he claimed were his children. Matthew Curtis and other online users frequently discussed their sexual abuse of children and their desire to abuse Curtis’s purported children.

As stated in their plea agreements, on May 28, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Curtis’s residence and seized electronic devices, including two of Matthew Curtis’s cell phones. A forensic review of Matthew’s cell phones revealed a total of 429 images and 129 videos of child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors and sado-masochistic conduct.

During an interview with law enforcement, Tyler Curtis falsely informed investigators that he had not viewed child pornography since his 2017 conviction and that he did not have a cell phone in his possession. As a result of the search warrant, law enforcement seized a cell phone that was hidden in the bottom of Tyler Curtis’s bedroom dresser. 

A forensic review of Tyler Curtis’s hidden cell phone revealed artifacts associated with at least 13 different email addresses. Investigators also discovered 115 images and 137 videos of child pornography on Curtis’s cell phone. The sexually abusive material contained sado-masochistic content as well as images of prepubescent females engaged in sexual acts with adult men, including at least two videos that depicted the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler. A forensic review of Tyler Curtis’s file storage and hosting service account revealed that he uploaded 185 images and 10 videos of child pornography to the service.

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, the Maryland State Police, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley, who prosecuted 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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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Barry Thomas Goldsborough, age 53, of Laurel, Maryland to 195 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography and for violating his federal supervised release. Goldsborough was on supervised release for two previous federal sex offense convictions for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and for possession of child pornography.

As part of his sentence, Goldsborough acknowledged that he will be required to continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, is an employee, and is a student, pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), and the laws of his state of residence. Goldsborough will also be required to pay $9,000 in restitution.

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; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

  According his plea agreement, in April 2019, an internet search engine and internet portal sent a CyberTipline Report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that reported an email account associated with Goldsborough had uploaded 181 files of suspected child pornography to his user account. Law enforcement subsequently reviewed the 181 files and determined that approximately 70 of the 181 files were considered child pornography. 

On November 19, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Goldsborough’s Laurel, Maryland residence and seized several electronic devices. A review of one of the devices revealed one image of child pornography. Law enforcement subsequently obtained a search warrant for Goldsborough’s email address, which revealed that Goldsborough sent and received multiple images of child pornography. For example, on January 27, 2018, Goldsborough received an image of child pornography from another email address. Goldsborough responded to the sender, indicating that he liked young girls between eight and 14 years old. Goldsborough also claimed to have had sex with an 11-year-old girl. 

As a result of an executed search warrant of Goldsborough’s Internet storage account, law enforcement located approximately 26 videos documenting the sexual abuse of children.

Goldsborough has two prior federal sex offense convictions involving minor children. Specifically, a prior conviction for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and a prior conviction for possession of child pornography in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Goldsborough was serving a 72-month term of federal supervised release from those two prior federal convictions at the time he committed the instant offense.  Prior to those convictions, Goldsborough was convicted in the District Court for Baltimore County in 2005 for Possession of Child Pornography and sentenced to a sentence of one year, suspended, with two years of supervised probation. Goldsborough was also convicted in the District Court for Howard County in 2015 with Failing to Register as a Sex Offender and sentenced to a two-day period of incarceration. 

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.         

For information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office’s priorities regarding Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood.  For more USAO-MD information about internet safety for children, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, who prosecuted the federal case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Robert Allen Valladares, age 37, of Elkton, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to distribution of fentanyl, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.    

The guilty plea 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.

Within the victim’s bedroom, officers located two empty wax bags stamped “Facetime” laying on the victim’s bed, an uncapped syringe that appeared to contain blood in it, and four cell phones. According to the victim’s family, the victim was recently discharged from a recovery house and appeared to be recovering well.

The victim’s father then informed officers 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. The victim’s father knew Valladares and had meet him previously. 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.

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 revealed that the victim had called Valladares one day before his death and texted Valladares that his father was bringing him to his residence, and that they had to “keep it on the low”.

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.

On May 19, 2020, a search warrant was executed at Valladares’ Elkton, Maryland residence. Valladares was detained at the front door of the residence. A search of the house yielded 38 bags of fentanyl. Valladares admits that he possessed the fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.

Valladares and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Valladares will be sentenced to between 132 months and 168 months in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for January 7, 2022 at 2 p.m. 

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.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – After a five-day trial, a federal jury yesterday convicted Francis Arthur, age 35, of Silver Spring, Maryland, for a money laundering conspiracy and for money laundering in connection with a scheme to defraud victim account holders at a credit union. The jury acquitted Arthur of a wire fraud conspiracy charge.   

The verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Matthew R. Stohler of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Department of Police.

According to the evidence presented at Arthur’s trial, from October 2016 through April 2017, Arthur and his co-conspirators engaged in financial transactions designed to conceal the nature, source and ownership of the proceeds of a fraud scheme to obtain cash from victim account holders at a Maryland credit union.  Specifically, the evidence showed that the conspirators transferred, withdrew cash, and caused cashiers’ checks to be issued from the proceeds of a fraud scheme.  Arthur and his co-conspirators then used the funds to purchase motor vehicles to conceal that the funds were derived from a fraud scheme. 

Arthur faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy and for each of five counts of money laundering.   U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has not yet scheduled sentencing.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Secret Service and the Montgomery County Department of Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin B. Pulice and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Nauvel, 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 – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Joshua Olatokunbo Shonubi, a/k/a Olatokunbo Joshua Shonubi, age 50, of Bowie, Maryland, for a federal charge of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and visa fraud and for presenting false documents to a federal government agency, in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain permanent resident status for foreign nationals by arranging marriages to U.S. citizens.  The indictment was returned on October 20, 2021 and unsealed today upon the defendant’s arrest. 

Shonubi is expected have an initial appearance today at 2:15 p.m., in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson.

The indictment 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 District Director Gregory L. Collett of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

According to the seven-count indictment, from at least January 2014 through January 2021, Shonubi, pastor of NewLife City Church, Inc. in Hyattsville, Maryland, engaged in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain immigration benefits for foreign nationals by arranging their marriage to United States citizens who served as their sponsors for permanent residence in the United States.  The indictment alleges that Shonubi received thousands of dollars from foreign nationals in exchange for connecting them with U.S. citizen sponsors and facilitating their marriages.

The indictment alleges that Shonubi, often utilizing his role as pastor of NewLife, directly or through others, recruited and groomed U.S. citizens, including economically disadvantaged citizens, with payments and promises of money in exchange for marrying foreign nationals, then sponsoring the foreign nationals for permanent residence in the United States through USCIS.  Shonubi also allegedly officiated some of the fraudulent marriages or arranged for a civil marriage ceremony to be performed in Virginia.  Further, the indictment alleges that Shonubi created and signed at least 38 reference letters on NewLife letterhead in support of foreign nationals’ applications for permanent residence falsely stating: his relation to the parties; the nature of the marriage; his role in providing spiritual guidance or counseling; and his belief as to the romantic nature of the marriage.  On at least 34 occasions, Shonubi also allegedly created false rental leases, listing Jaypro, a corporation he formed in 2015, as landlord, to provide proof that the foreign national and U.S. citizen were living together, when in fact, they were living separately.  The false documents created by Shonubi and others were allegedly submitted to USCIS as part of the foreign nationals’ applications for permanent residence.  The indictment alleges that Shonubi and his co-conspirators submitted at least 60 application packets to USCIS, each documenting a marriage between a U.S. citizen and a foreign national, for the purpose of obtaining permanent residence for the foreign national.

If convicted, Shonubi faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit visa fraud and marriage fraud and a maximum of five years in federal prison for each of six counts of presenting false documents to a federal government agency.  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 HSI and USCIS for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason X. Hamilton and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Maddox, 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 – United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division are teaming up to publicize the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day being held in Maryland and across the country on Saturday, October 23, 2021.  The service is free and anonymous. Maryland has approximately 100 available sites. The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539.  The nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs and educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron will be participating with DEA and other federal, state, and local law enforcement officials at the Wilde Lake Village Center event in Columbia, Maryland, sponsored by HC DrugFree and the Howard County Police Department.  The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Over the pandemic we have seen a sharp increase in overdose deaths, and the path to opioid abuse can begin in the home with unused prescription drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “I encourage all Marylanders to get rid of the unused and unneeded prescription drugs in their homes by participating in DEA’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday or by visiting https://takebackday.dea.gov/ to find a collection site near them to take advantage of this free and anonymous service.  Proper disposal of unused and unneeded  prescription drugs will help prevent drug abuse and opioid addiction.”

“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue in our area,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Washington Division. “Our Take Back Day events highlight the problems associated with prescription drug abuse and give area residents an opportunity to contribute to the solution. With these efforts and the efforts from our incredible partners across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C., we are helping to combat the opioid and overdose epidemics and keeping our area families safe.”

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, DEA wants to ensure that the public is aware of other ways they can dispose of unwanted prescription drugs without having to leave their homes. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs at home.  Go to https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines or https://www.epa.gov/hwgenerators/collecting-and-disposing-unwanted-medicines

In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be disposed of at any of the 11,000 DEA authorized collectors at any time throughout the year, and at many local law enforcement agency sites.

DEA and our state and local partners throughout the area will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms. DEA will also accept vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers, only after the batteries are removed from the devices. If the battery cannot be removed, individual consumers can check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the vape pen or e-cigarette devices for proper disposal. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs cannot be dropped off. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Recent Federal Prosecution of Opioid Cases

United States v. Jacob Leister:  On December 3, 2020, Jacob Leister was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after Leister pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and Alprazolam.  Leister was also ordered to forfeit $15,400 in the form of a money judgment, which represents the net proceeds of his sale of drugs to an undercover officer.  According to his guilty plea, from December 2018 through September 2019, Leister sold purported prescription pills, including Oxycodone and Alprazolam, to an undercover law enforcement officer on several occasions. Subsequent lab testing found that the purported Oxycodone contained at least 56 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, 708 pills contained Alprazolam, and 600 pills contained a substance similar to Alprazolam, but that is not a controlled substance. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Leister’s residence on November 21, 2019 and recovered a number of computers, three firearms and ammunition and magazines for the firearms. Searches of the computers revealed, among other things, information and photographs about bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and cryptocurrency exchanges and information about dark web marketplaces, where individuals can purchase drugs. 

United States v. Joyce Edwards et al: On March 3, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted the owner and operator of a purported pain management clinic, as well as two nurse practitioners who were employed at the clinic, on the federal charges for conspiracy to distribute and dispense oxycodone and for distribution and dispensing of oxycodone.  Charged in the indictment are: Joyce Shawanda Edwards, Justina Aburime, and Thomas Charles Johnson, Jr.  Edwards owned and operated Personal Touch Medical Spa, LLP (“PTMS”), formerly known as Holistic Health and Wellness Medical Spa LLP, a purported “pain management” clinic located in Largo, Maryland, which the indictment alleges was, in reality, a “pill mill.”   A pill mill is a health care provider’s office, clinic, or health care facility that routinely prescribes and dispenses controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.  Aburime and Johnson were nurse practitioners who worked at PTMS and both were authorized to prescribe controlled substances for legitimate medical purposes.  The indictment alleges that Edwards, Aburime, and Johnson distributed and dispensed oxycodone that was not prescribed for a medical purpose or in the usual course of professional practice.  The indictment alleges that Aburime and Johnson pre-signed blank prescriptions, allowing Edwards to issue prescriptions for oxycodone under their names, even though she was not authorized to issue prescriptions.  Further, the indictment alleges that, to create the false appearance that PTMS provided other treatment options to controlled substances, PTMS directed customers to physical therapy and provided massages.  The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of approximately $278,951.72, seized on July 11, 2019, after the execution of seizure warrants on bank accounts held in the name of Personal Touch Medical Spa, LLP.

United States v. David Robinson:  On March 4, 2021, David Robinson was sentenced to 171 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the federal charges of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and alprazolam and for murder for hire.  Robinson, formerly a licensed pharmacist who owned and operated the Frankford Family Pharmacy, located in the 5400 block of Sinclair Lane in Baltimore pleaded guilty on October 10, 2018, to a federal drug conspiracy involving the distribution of oxycodone and alprazolam outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.  On December 17, 2020, Robinson pleaded guilty to a federal charge of murder for hire, admitting that he ordered a “hit” on the person he believed had cooperated with law enforcement that led to his indictment on those charges.  Robinson’s pharmacist license was suspended on August 7, 2017.

United States v. Monica Raynette Clark et al:  On May 17, 2021, a criminal complaint was filed charging the manager of a pain clinic, her boyfriend, and several customers with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including oxycodone and oxymorphone. The defendants charged in the criminal complaint are: Monica Raynette Clark; Michael Tyrone Scott III; Larry Nathaniel Waller; Mildred Taylor; Jason James Johnson; and Lisa Ann Lewis.  According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, law enforcement obtained evidence that drug trafficking was occurring at two pain clinics—Memorial Care Center, located in Woodbridge, Virginia (“Memorial Care”) and Washington DC Spine Center (“WDC Spine”), which closed in August 2019.  Clark was employed as the office manager of Memorial Care and was previously the office manager of WDC Spine.  Clark was not a physician and did not have a Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) registration number.  The criminal complaint alleges that Clark forged prescriptions for opioids using prescription pads from the clinics’ doctors, then illegally sold the forged opioid prescriptions to opioid users and diverters, including customers who live in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, such as Waller, Taylor, Johnson, and Lewis.  Clark is allegedly in a romantic relationship with Scott, who assists Clark in selling the forged prescriptions.  To evade scrutiny by law enforcement, Clark allegedly used several different phones to sell prescriptions and instructed customers to use specific pharmacies to fill prescriptions.  The criminal complaint further alleges that Clark instructed an undercover agent to claim a fictious work injury in order to receive a professional recommendation for opioid use and that Clark later arranged to sell forged prescriptions to the undercover agent.

United States v. Howard Hoffberg:  On June 9, 2021, Howard Hoffberg, M.D., pleaded guilty to the federal charge of conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statutes, in connection with a scheme to accept payments from a pharmaceutical company in exchange for prescribing a drug the company marketed for breakthrough pain in cancer patients for off-label purposes. Hoffberg, is a doctor and was licensed to practice medicine in the State of Maryland.  He served as the Associate Medical Director and part-owner of Rosen-Hoffberg Rehabilitation and Pain Management (the “Practice”).  Starting in June 2012, Hoffberg solicited and received kickbacks and bribes for himself in the form of payments from Insys Therapeutics, Inc. (“Insys”) (a pharmaceutical company) and related entities.  In January 2012, the FDA approved Insys’s application to sell and market a Transmucosal Immediate Release Fentanyl (“TIRF”) drug named Subsys to treat cancer patients experiencing break-through pain, which is a sudden onset of pain in cancer patients that cannot be controlled with their usual treatment regimen.  Subsys is a potent opioid designed to rapidly enter a patient’s bloodstream upon being sprayed under the tongue.  Subsys contains fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid pain reliever that has a high potential for abuse and addiction. Because of the limited number of cancer patients experiencing breakthrough pain who fit the FDA-approved criteria, Insys devised an illegal kickback and bribery scheme to induce Hoffberg and others to prescribe Subsys off-label for conditions other than breakthrough pain in cancer patients.  

United States v. William Soyke:  On August 26, 2021, William Soyke, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and dispense oxycodone, fentanyl, methadone, and alprazolam outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.  Sokye was employed as a physician assistant with Drs. Rosen and Hoffberg from 2011 to 2018, where he treated patients during follow-up doctor appointments. As a physician assistant, Soyke had privileges to prescribe controlled substance medications but was required to operate under a delegation agreement between himself and the Rosen Hoffberg owners.  Sokye was aware that many of the patients presenting to Rosen Hoffberg did not have a legitimate medical need for the oxycodone, fentanyl, alprazolam, and methadone they were being prescribed.  Nevertheless, Soyke issued prescriptions for these drugs to patients without a legitimate medical need and outside the bounds of acceptable medical practice.  Soyke also admitted that in several instances he engaged in sexual, physical contact with female patients who were attempting to get prescriptions. Specifically, Soyke asked some female customers to engage in a range of motion test, and while they were bending over, he would position himself behind them such that his genitalia would rub against the customers’ buttocks through their clothes. These patients often acceded to this sexual abuse for fear of not getting the medications to which they were addicted. 

Federal Grant Funding

In 2020, over $2.3 million in federal grant funding was awarded to the state of Maryland to assist efforts to combat opioid abuse. 

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program assists states and local governments to develop and implement substance abuse treatment programs in state and local correctional and detention facilities and to create and maintain community-based aftercare services for offenders. The goal of the RSAT Program is to break the cycle of drugs and violence by reducing the demand for, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. RSAT enhances the capability of states and units of local government to provide residential substance abuse treatment for incarcerated inmates; prepares offenders for their reintegration into the communities from which they came by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs; and assists offenders and their communities through the reentry process through the delivery of community-based treatment and other broad-based aftercare services.

The Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) enhances the capacity of regulatory and law enforcement agencies and public health officials to collect and analyze controlled substance prescription data and other scheduled chemical products. The PDMP helps Maryland and its local governments to detect and prevent the diversion and abuse of opioids and other prescription drugs.

For more information on DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and to find a collection site in Maryland, visit www.deatakeback.com.

For more information on opioid abuse and where you can find help, please visit /media/1138691/dl?inline.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Sean Levan Henson, age 28, of Suitland, Maryland to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for coercion and enticement of a minor. Judge Hazel also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Henson 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 Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy, Chief Russell E. Hamill III of the Laurel Police Department; and Chief Eric L. Reiley of the Woodstock Virginia Police Department.

  According to his guilty plea, in February 2019, Henson used various social media platforms to communicate sexual messages with a 14-year-old female victim residing in Shenandoah County, Virginia. For example, on February 15, 2019 Henson sent a message stating “I’m gonna take my time and appreciate you and make love to that body.”

As detailed in his plea agreement, on February 22, 2019, Henson traveled to Shenandoah County, Virginia where he picked up the victim for the purpose of transporting her to Maryland and engaging in sexual activity.  On February 23, 2019, Henson engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim in Laurel, Maryland.  Henson subsequently paid for a ride-sharing service to transport the female victim back to Shenandoah County, Virginia.  The victim’s parents reported the victim as a missing person and gave a statement to law enforcement.

On March 6, 2019, law enforcement communicated with Henson by telephone.  At that time Henson admitted he was aware the victim was 14 years old and that he had been communicating with the victim for two months with the intention of a romantic relationship.  Henson also informed law enforcement he picked up the victim at a Virginia gas station before he proceeded to Maryland where he engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim in Maryland.

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 praised the FBI, the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Laurel Police Department, and the Woodstock Virginia Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. 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 – Two Correctional Officers, Darren Parker, age 45, of Baltimore, and Talaia Youngblood, age 35, of Randallstown, Maryland, have pleaded guilty to their roles in a racketeering conspiracy at the Chesapeake Detention Facility (CDF), in Baltimore, admitting that they accepted bribes to smuggle contraband, including narcotics, tobacco, and cell phones, into the jail.  Parker entered his guilty plea yesterday and Youngblood pleaded guilty on October 13, 2021.

The guilty pleas were 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; and Secretary Robert Green of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).

“These corrupt correctional officers endangered the lives of their co-workers and of the detainees entrusted to their care and supervision,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out prison corruption and prosecute correctional officers who abuse their positions of trust to facilitate and engage in criminal behavior.”

“Even one unethical person or contraband transaction endangers everyone,” said DPSCS Secretary Robert Green. “Our honest employees, and the detainees and inmates we care for, cannot be put in danger.”

According to court documents, CDF is run by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) pursuant to a contract with the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and used solely for the housing of federal pretrial detainees.  CDF is a maximum-security prison that houses approximately 500 male and female detainees.  There are six housing areas, or “pods” in CDF.

As detailed in their plea agreements, Parker and Youngblood, along with other employees, detainees and associates of CDF, knowingly participated in a conspiracy to smuggle contraband into CDF, including narcotics, cell phones, and tobacco.  Parker and Youngblood admitted that they abused their positions of trust as sworn officers of DPSCS by engaging in illegal activities to enrich themselves.

Specifically, Youngblood admitted that beginning in at least November 2017, she smuggled contraband into CDF for multiple detainees, including BB with whom she had a romantic relationship.  At the direction of BB and other detainees, Youngblood met with outside facilitators to collect contraband and receive bribe payments, including a cellular telephone that she used to communicate with BB, who was in turn using a contraband cell phone inside CDF.  On April 3, 2020, federal investigators executed a search warrant at Youngblood’s residence and recovered 35 grams of marijuana, packaged for distribution, a digital scale, a grinder, and $3,581 in cash.  Investigators also recovered a handwritten note from BB, two cell phones, photographs of CDF detainees, including BB, and three handwritten birthday cards from detainees at CDF. 

According to Parker’s plea agreement, he admitted that beginning no later than 2018 he smuggled contraband into CDF on behalf of detainee JH.  Parker admitted that on February 18, 2019, he smuggled liquor into CDF, which he hid inside a water bottle and delivered to JH as a birthday present.  On four separate occasions in early 2019, Parker received bribe payments totaling $1,980 from JH’s outside facilitator via Cash App.  On March 10, 2019, Parker met with the outside facilitator near the intersection of North Front and Low Streets in Baltimore and received a black plastic bag containing a cell phone, charger, Suboxone, and tobacco, to be smuggled into CDF and provided to JH.  The next day, Parker brought the black bag containing the contraband to work and was interdicted by officers in the CDF parking lot.  Parker subsequently admitted to the officers that he intended to deliver the contraband to JH.

The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the racketeering conspiracy.  U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III has scheduled Youngblood’s sentencing for December 21, 2021 and scheduled Parker’s sentencing for January 14, 2022, both at 9:30 a.m.

The U.S. Attorney expressed appreciation to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, whose staff initiated the CDF investigation and have been full partners in this investigation. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and DPSCS for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter J. Martinez and Harry M. Gruber, 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 Joseph Kukta, age 45 of Laurel, Delaware, to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for interstate transportation of stolen goods and tax evasion, in connection with his theft and resale of merchandise being shipped through a commercial mail service. Judge Blake has also ordered Kukta to pay $1,101,743.91 in restitution and forfeiture of $1,880,000.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.

According to his plea agreement, from 2007 through July 2019, Kukta worked as a Senior Manager at the FedEx facility located in Seaford, Delaware where he oversaw all operational aspects of the facility, supervised over 100 employees and contractors, and earned an annual salary of more than $92,000. The facility handled all the FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery packages passing through the Delmarva Peninsula. 

Kukta admitted that he stole packages shipped via FedEx and resold the items to co-defendant Saurabh Chawla, at approximately 50% of the item’s retail price from 2009 to June 2019. Kukta then transported the stolen items, using his vehicles and trailers, to a relative of Chawla who resided in Maryland. From about 2009 to 2019, Kukta received more than $1,880,000 in illegal proceeds for selling stolen goods that were worth at least $3,250,000. 

As detailed in his plea agreement, Kukta stole packages that contained bulk retail goods and merchandise shipped by suppliers including Apple and other high-end manufactured products intended for delivery to a Walmart Distribution Center in Smyrna, Delaware. Beginning in 2012, Kukta’s theft of packages became frequent and consistent, occurring on a weekly basis in certain months. Kukta identified packages he would steal by accessing FedEx computer systems and reviewing packages that had been loaded onto a FedEx trailer awaiting delivery to the Walmart Distribution Center. Kukta selected specific packages which he believed, based on the shippers of the packages, contained high-end electronics or other merchandise of value that could be easily resold. 

In 2018, Kukta began to also steal packages from FedEx trailers that were loaded for delivery to a retail Store in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Kukta went to the FedEx facility on Sundays, holidays, or other times when employees were not at the facility, and removed the packages he previously identified from the FedEx trailers. Kukta attempted to avoid detection by turning off the lights at the facility and blocking certain surveillance cameras with cardboard boxes and other objects.  Kukta loaded the stolen packages into his truck or into vehicles operated by FedEx contractors and parked at the facility, then drove the vehicles to his rented storage unit in Seaford, where he unloaded and stored the items.

As stated in his plea agreement, on June 5, 2019, Kukta learned that law enforcement had subpoenaed surveillance footage from the FedEx facility in Seaford. Approximately two weeks later, Kukta went to the storage unit and retrieved the remaining stolen items. Kukta sold that merchandise at an auction house in Lincoln, Delaware.

Kukta also admitted that he evaded paying income taxes on the proceeds of the scheme by failing to report that income on his annual joint federal income tax returns, causing a tax loss to the United States totaling $660,439. To conceal the income, Kukta provided false information to two banks when they questioned why he was receiving money from Company A (which was controlled by Chawla). As to each bank, Kukta falsely told bank representatives that he had been selling items from his father’s estate, which he knew was false. Kukta also provided false information to the IRS during a correspondence audit, claiming that the items he had sold on eBay during 2014 were from his father’s estate, not the sale of stolen goods.

Co-conspirator Saurabh Chawla, age 36, of Aurora, Colorado, was previously sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for federal charges of conspiracy, interstate transportation of stolen goods, and tax evasion.  Chawla was also ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $713,619, and ordered to forfeit a 2013 Tesla Model S and $2,308,062.61 from accounts held in his name and the sale of property in Aurora, Colorado.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the IRS-CI and HSI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Paul A. Riley, who prosecuted the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Kyell Bryan, age 20, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to aggravated identity theft in connection with his involvement in a “SIM swap” and cryptocurrency theft scheme.

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 (BCPD).

According to his guilty plea, in June 2019, Bryan conspired with others, including co-defendant Jordan K. Milleson, to carry out a scheme to steal cryptocurrency from others. At the beginning of the conspiracy, Bryan knew Milleson only by an online alias and did not know Milleson’s real name.

The scheme to defraud was carried out by fraudulently obtaining the login credentials of wireless service provider or affiliate employees, using the stolen credentials of these employees to access the service providers’ computer networks. Upon accessing the computer networks of the wireless service providers, Bryan and his co-conspirators conducted unauthorized “SIM swaps.” “SIM swapping” refers to a method of unauthorized takeover of a person’s wireless account, effectively allowing malicious actors to divert phone and data traffic intended for one device, e.g., a cell phone, to another device controlled by the malicious actors. The conspirators then used their unauthorized access to victims’ cellular telephone accounts to illegally gain access to victims’ email and financial accounts, enabling them to transfer the victims’ cryptocurrency from the victims’ accounts.

Specifically, in June 2019, Milleson used several phishing websites he created to steal the login credentials of Victim 2, who worked for a specific wireless provider or its affiliate. On June 25, 2019, Bryan and Milleson used Victim 2’s credentials to gain unauthorized access to the wireless provider’s computer network and execute “SIM swaps”.

After gaining access to the wireless provider’s network, Milleson and Bryan intentionally used the stolen login credentials to redirect phone and text message traffic intended for a mobile device used by the owner of a digital currency investment company, Victim 3, to a device controlled by them.

After conducting a successful “SIM swap” of Victim 3’s phone account, Bryan and his co-conspirators unlawfully gained access to Victim 3’s online accounts, including their email account, and an account containing digital currency. Bryan then instructed and directed Milleson to transfer Victim 3’s cryptocurrency out of Victim 3’s account. At the time of the transfer, Victim 3’s cryptocurrency was valued at approximately $16,847.47.

Soon after the theft, Bryan and his co-conspirators began to suspect that Milleson cheated Bryan and the other accomplices out of their share of the stolen proceeds. Bryan and other accomplices then began to threaten Milleson; one accomplice stated that if Milleson did not share the proceeds, they would burn down Milleson’s house and ruin Milleson’s life.

Bryan and his co-conspirators then attempted to uncover Milleson’s true identity by messaging other individuals for Milleson’s real name, address, and contact information. During a conversation with a co-conspirator, Bryan learned that Milleson went by the alias of “Chikri”. Later on, Bryan stated that the conspiracy would find Milleson’s identifying information and “swat” him. “Swatting” refers to a criminal harassment tactic in which a person makes a false report to law enforcement such as a bomb threat, murder, or hostage situation in order to trigger police or SWAT response to a specific address and place the target in a real life-threatening situation.

Shortly after Bryan asked other individuals for Milleson’s real information and learned that “Chikri” also identifies himself under the alias “Jordy”, the BCPD received a call from an unknown male claiming to have shot his father and was threatening to shoot himself. The male caller stated he was at Milleson’s home address and advised that he was armed with a handgun. During the call, the unknown male threatened to shoot if police confronted him.

The BCPD dispatched patrol officers and subsequently learned there was not a real emergency situation at the Milleson residence. However, a relative of Milleson informed authorities that an unknown person called the residence and said that Milleson had stolen $20,000.

Bryan agrees that he and his accomplices carried out the swatting attack to target Milleson because Milleson initially refused to share the proceeds stolen from Victim 3. Byran also agrees that he knowingly possessed and illegally used the identification of a real person during and in relation to wire fraud, unauthorized access of a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, and intentional damage of a protected computer.

Co-defendant Jordan Milleson was sentenced to two years in federal prison on May 5, 2021 by Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar. Chief Judge Bredar also ordered Milleson to pay restitution of $34, 329.01.

Bryan faces a statutorily required sentence of two years in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release for aggravated identity theft. As part of his plea agreement, Bryan will be ordered to pay $16,847.47 in restitution. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for January 31, 2022 at 10 a.m.

This case was prosecuted utilizing resources from the Dark Market and Digital Currency Crimes (DMDCC) Task Force. The DMDCC Task Force is a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI – Baltimore, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Food and Drug Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department, targeting the use of dark net marketplaces and digital currencies to facilitate criminal activities. The past several years have witnessed a significant increase in the use of the internet (both the clear net and dark net) and digital currencies to facilitate, for example, the illegal sale and distribution of narcotics and firearms, computer technologies (including hacking tools), and Personal Identifiable Information (PII). In response to this rising threat, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI, and their partners formed the DMDCC Task Force to facilitate stronger collaboration among law enforcement partners combatting these crimes.

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

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Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Eunice Nkongho, a/k/a “Eunice Bisong,” age 40 of California, on October 15, 2021, after a seven day trial, for conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain goods using what appeared to be a military e-mail address, but was actually a registered Yahoo e-mail address. 

The guilty verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Special Agent in Charge Nasir Khan of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement's Washington Field Office.

According to testimony at the seven-day trial and court documents, a co-conspirator of Nkongho’s established and used what was purported to be a U.S. Navy e-mail address, authentic forms, titles, addresses and other indicia to pose as a U.S. government contracting agent and fraudulently obtain merchandise, including large-screen televisions, specialized communications equipment, iPhones and iPads.  Much of the fraud scheme was conducted from outside the United States, including from Nigeria.  Three victim companies—one that provided wireless voice and data services that was headquartered in Washington State, one that was a wholesale audio-video distributor and manufacturer’s representative located in Virginia, and a defense contractor that designed, manufactured, and marketed communications equipment that was headquartered in Maryland—shipped merchandise, without prior payment, to East Coast co-conspirators.  Those individuals then shipped the stolen items to other co-conspirators on the West Coast, where they were sold.

Specifically, the evidence at trial proved that after twice receiving bags of cash from a co-conspirator in a gas station parking lot in Los Angeles, which was proceeds from the sale of the fraudulently obtained Apple products, Nkongho laundered the money two separate series of complex transactions involving at least five bank accounts and, in doing so, both promoted the ongoing criminal activity and concealed the illegal source of the funds.  After multiple transactions, Nkongho wired some of this money to a co-conspirator in Nigeria in a way that would avoid transaction reporting requirements.Similarly, the evidence at trial proved that Nkongho engaged in other transactions to conceal the nature and ownership of proceeds from the sale of the fraudulently obtained televisions.

Of the nine defendants charged in this case, Nkongho has now been convicted after trial and seven others have pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud scheme.  One defendant, Eunice Nkongho’s husband, Peter Unakalu, is a fugitive.

Nkongho faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and for money laundering.  U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for February 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.                   

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement for their work in the investigation, and thanked the FBI Washington Field Office and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for their assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin and Adam K. Ake, who are prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced MS-13 leader Jorge Guerra-Castillo, a/k/a “Pelon”, age 40, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 45 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a racketeering conspiracy, including three violent murders and two attempted murders, leaving one of the victims without the use of his hand, which was nearly severed during the murder attempt. 

At today’s sentencing hearing, the government presented testimony detailing Guerra-Castillo’s leadership of the gang, which continued while he lived in Florida and while he was in prison.  The testimony included details about Guerra-Castillo exhorting MS-13 gang members to find and kill more rivals, to sell more drugs, extort more victims to obtain money, and to recruit more members.  There was also testimony that Guerra-Castillo raped and kidnapped a 14-year-old girl, who he took to live with him in Florida.  Guerra-Castillo was 33 years old at the time of the kidnapping.

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; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Jason Lando of the City of Frederick Police Department; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad.

“As a leader in MS-13, Guerra-Castillo directed and approved the violent murders of individuals thought to be rival gang members,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “Guerra-Castillo will now serve practically a life sentence for his crimes.  The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and our partners are committed to stopping violent gangs like MS-13 to ensure that citizens can live peacefully and without fear in their communities.”

MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador and other central American countries.  Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland.  According to his guilty plea, beginning some time before January 2015, Guerra-Castillo was a member of the Fulton Locos Salvatruchas (“FLS”) clique of MS-13 and agreed with other MS-13 members to conduct and participate in gang activities through a pattern of racketeering activity that included conspiracy to commit murder, extortion, and drug distribution.

At all times of this conspiracy, members of MS-13 were expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons.  To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members were expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence.  MS-13 had mottos consistent with its rules, beliefs, expectations and reputation including “mata, viola, controla,” which translates as, “kill, rape, control,” and “ver, oir y callar,” which means, “see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing.” One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, often referred to as “chavalas,” whenever possible. 

MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang, as well as against rival gang members.  Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increase the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang, and opens the door to promotion to a leadership position. 

According to Guerra-Castillo’s plea agreement, on April 7, 2015, MS-13 members murdered Victim 1, a suspected rival gang member, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing rank in MS-13. Prior to the murder, gang leadership in Maryland sought and received approval from Guerra-Castillo to kill Victim 1. Guerra-Castillo also arranged for another gang member to participate in the murder of Victim 1. As part of the scheme to murder Victim 1, MS-13 members lured Victim 1 to a wooded area in Frederick, Maryland where members repeatedly struck Victim 1 with a machete and a knife until he was dead.  The day after the murder, MS-13 members buried Victim 1 in a wooded area where Victim 1’s body was ultimately recovered. 

Prior to May 10, 2015, at the direction of Guerra- Castillo, MS-13 gang members forced Victim 2 to make regular extortion payments to the gang.  On May 10, 2015, Guerra-Castillo directed other MS-13 members and associates to kidnap and kill Victim 2, who had stopped making the extortion payments to the gang.  Gang members held Victim 2 at gunpoint while Victim 2 was forced into a vehicle and taken to a wooded area.  Once Victim 2 agreed to pay the gang, Guerra-Castillo and other leadership approved the release of Victim 2, despite their original order directing MS-13 members to murder Victim 2 for lack of payment. 

As stated in his plea agreement, in August 2015, MS-13 members and associates sought and received approval from Guerra-Castillo to murder Victim 3, whom they believed to be a rival gang member.  Several days prior to August 28, 2015, MS-13 gang members surveilled Victim 3 and his girlfriend, Victim 4 to determine when Victim 3 would be home. On the morning of August 28, 2015, gang members went to the apartment and waited inside for Victim 3 and Victim 4 to return.  When they arrived, three gang members attacked Victim 3 and Victim 4 with a machete and knives.  Although both victims survived the attack, Victim 3 was left with severe wounds to the face and both hands nearly severed.  As a result of the attack, Victim 3 has lost all function of one hand and still has only limited use of the other. 

Guerra-Castillo also admitted that he approved and assisted in the planning of the murder of a suspected associate of a rival gang, identified as Victim 18.  On June 24, 2017, Guerra-Castillo’s girlfriend lured Victim 18 to a location so MS-13 members could kidnap and kill the victim.  Once the victim was in the car, MS-13 members transported the victim to a secluded area in Crownsville, Maryland, where other MS-13 members had dug a grave and gathered weapons.  When the victim arrived, MS-13 gang members attacked Victim 18 with a machete and knives, until the victim was dead. Victim 18’s body was then dismembered and buried in the grave.  The murder of Victim 18 was intended to maintain and increase the status of MS-13 and allow members to maintain or increase their status within the gang.

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 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.    

Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to call the FBI’s nationwide tipline, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713).  The FBI tipline allows individuals to provide information about MS-13’s criminal activities to a central location and the FBI will then disseminate the information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for investigation.  Your identity will be protected.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI; HSI; the Frederick Police Department; the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; the Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County Police Departments; and the Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys for their work in the investigation, and the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark, Zachary Stendig, and Anatoly Smolkin, 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 – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced Charvez Deonte Brooks, age 32, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, to 124 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit a commercial robbery in connection with the robbery of a gas station owner.  Brooks was convicted of that charge on August 20, 2020, after a five-day trial.  Brooks has been detained since his arrest. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Charlie Patterson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to testimony at trial and court documents, Brooks and two others conspired to rob a gas station owner.  According to court documents, one of the co-conspirators, Jesse James Elder, was a frequent customer of the gas station, located in the 10000 block of Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills, Maryland, and was friendly with the employees, including the owner.  On January 16, 2018, video surveillance showed that the owner was already at the gas station when Elder pulled into the parking lot.  Elder went inside the gas station to play the lottery, then left the store and waited in his car in the parking lot.  Shortly thereafter, the owner placed approximately $17,000 in gas station proceeds into a bank bag and left the store.  As the owner walked out, he stopped next to Elder’s vehicle and began talking to Elder.  While the owner and Elder were talking, Brooks and co-conspirator Levon Verian Butts approached from a neighboring parking lot and hid behind other parked cars.  When the owner walked away from Elder’s vehicle, Butts and Brooks charged the owner, pushed him to the ground, and grabbed the bank bag from his hand.

Witnesses testified that as Brooks and Butts tried to run back to the adjacent parking lot, a bystander who had seen the incident gave chase and tripped Butts, causing him to run out of his shoes, which Butts left in the parking lot.  Brooks also dropped some of the money as he was running away.  Brooks and Butts made it back to the adjacent parking lot, got into Brooks’ silver Infiniti, and fled the area.  According to trial evidence, the bystander followed the vehicle and took two photographs of the car as it fled from the parking lot.  Meanwhile, Elder drove around the owner, who was lying motionless in the parking lot, and left the gas station.  The evidence presented at trial showed that while Brooks was attempting to get away, he crashed into another car that was waiting at a red light and  continued driving to an area near Liberty Road, where he left the Infiniti.

As a result of being pushed to the ground, the owner of the gas station hit his head on the pavement and was knocked unconscious.  He was transported to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with multiple skull fractures, a cerebral hemorrhage, and remained in critical condition for several weeks.  He suffered a traumatic brain injury and has not returned to normal function.

Baltimore County Police officers responded to the gas station and recovered the money that had been dropped by Brooks along with Butts’ shoes from the gas station parking lot.  They also recovered surveillance video from the gas station, a .22-caliber handgun, and additional money in the parking lot near where the Infiniti had been parked.  Officers spoke with several witnesses, including the bystander who had taken photos of Brooks’ vehicle, as well as Elder, who provided a false statement.  The photograph taken by the bystander of Brooks’ vehicle showed that it had a fraudulent New York license plate and was missing the insignia from the rear of the car.  Subsequent testing of the shoes recovered from the robbery found that DNA from the shoes matched Butts’ DNA.

According to court documents and witness testimony, while at the crime scene, Elder remained in contact with Brooks and Butts, via Butts’ cell phone.  Brooks, Butts and Elder met later at Reisterstown Plaza, discussed the robbery, the evidence that was, and divided the proceeds from the robbery.

Several months later, Butts and Elder were charged with the robbery.  Elder was arrested on May 10, 2018. Five days later Brooks spoke to Elder over a jail phone, which records all inmate calls.  During the recorded call, Brooks used coded language to tell Elder not to tell police that Brooks was involved in the robbery.

Investigators later identified Brooks as the third participant in the robbery and he was subsequently charged federally.  During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Brooks drove a silver Infiniti with the same unique markings as the getaway vehicle, and that he had access to fraudulent license plates.  For example, when Brooks was stopped by Baltimore County police officers for a traffic violation a few months before the robbery, he was driving a silver Infiniti with a missing insignia on the back of the car and a fraudulent temporary Florida license tag.  On the day of the robbery, Brooks and Butts were seen arriving at Elder’s house, where Brooks took off his license plate and attached a fraudulent New York tag. 

Levon Verian Butts, age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.  Elder, age 46, of Owings Mills, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a commercial robbery and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for Elder on December 17, 2021 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.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren E. Perry and Anatoly Smolkin, 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 – A federal criminal complaint charges William Rich, age 41, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, for allegedly fraudulently obtaining a total of more than $1 million dollars in Veterans disability benefits and Social Security Administration disability benefits by falsely claiming that he was a paraplegic. The criminal complaint filed on October 12, 2021, and was unsealed yesterday upon Rich’s arrest. 

The federal charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Inspector General Kim R. Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge, Mid Atlantic Field Office, Washington, DC of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division (SSA).

The criminal complaint alleges that Rich misrepresented his physical condition in VA disability compensation claims, in communications with the VA and during medical examinations in pursuit of VA disability benefits, purporting that he is paralyzed and unable to walk. As a result, Rich has allegedly received more than approximately $800,000 in VA benefits to which he was not entitled, including disability compensation, special monetary and caregiver assistance compensation, as well as medical care and subsidies for medical equipment. In addition, the criminal complaint alleges that Rich received more than $240,000 in Social Security Administration (SSA) Disability Insurance Benefit payments.

According to the criminal complaint, Rich served in the United States Army from on or about September 22, 1998 to February 27, 2007, sustaining injuries on August 23, 2005, while serving in Baqubah, Iraq. As a result of those injuries, in 2007 the VA rated Rich one hundred percent disabled due to the “loss of use of both lower extremities…” The VA disability compensation program provides tax-free monetary benefits paid to veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. The amount of disability compensation a veteran receives is commensurate with their service-connected disability rating. Rich was also awarded special monthly compensation for paraplegia and given allowances for a caregiver. Rich also received SSA Disability Insurance Benefit payments.

As detailed in the criminal complaint, approximately six weeks after Rich’s injuries, he had begun to make substantial progress toward recovery, and was no longer paralyzed. In particular, a report from Rich’s annual physical examination dated October 7, 2005 stated that an MRI on August 24, 2005 revealed “no [spinal] cord impingement” or “[spinal] cord abnormalities” and noted that Rich’s “…paralysis has resolved somewhat and at present he is able to move his lower extremities.”  A subsequent report, dated December 5, 2006, indicated Rich was able to perform certain essential daily activities with “complete independence” or “modified independence” such as using the bathroom and “locomotion.”

However, according to the affidavit, later records documenting a subsequent exam conducted on October 11, 2007 stated, “Since his accident, he has been paralyzed in both lower extremities; has been confined to a wheelchair….”  The examining physician, who noted that he did not have access to Rich’s complete claims file, and so did not review Rich’s medical history or observe the earlier report, also did not order an x-ray, stating he “did not feel that it was worth the trauma to him of manipulating him around.” Based on this examination, Rich was granted permanent disability from VA.

In 2018, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of certain claims and learned of conduct by Rich inconsistent with his purported condition. VA OIG opened an investigation into possible fraud in Rich’s claim for VA benefits. According to the affidavit, over the next two years, VA OIG Special Agents (SAs) conducted surveillance and observed of Rich walking, going up and down stairs, entering and exiting vehicles, lifting, bending, and carrying items—all without visible limitation or assistance of a medical device, including a wheelchair.

The affidavit further alleges that throughout the course of their surveillance, the only time agents observed Rich use a wheelchair was in connection with VA medical appointments. In particular, on five occasions between March 2019 and February 2021, VA OIG SAs allegedly observed Rich either loading his wheelchair into the trunk of his car before or after a VA medical appointment, using a wheelchair at VA appointments, or wheeling himself from a VA medical appointment to his car, and then loading his wheelchair into the car.

According to the affidavit, a review of Rich’s publicly available social media accounts revealed multiple images of Rich standing, with no indication that he is bound to a wheelchair, as well as an image Rich took of himself standing in front of a mirror at a gym, as well as videos of Rich lifting weights.

In addition to monthly benefits Rich received from the VA, according to the affidavit, Rich also received grants from the VA for “Automobile and Adaptive Equipment,” and “Specially Adapted Housing.” In particular, the affidavit alleges that Rich used the funds intended for the purchase of a specially adapted vehicle to buy a BMW 645ci luxury sports coupe.

If convicted, Rich faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for theft of government property. 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. On October 13, 2021, Rich had an initial appearance in United States District Court in Baltimore and was ordered to be released pending trial.

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. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the VA OIG and SSA Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Davio, 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 – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Delando Lee Brown, age 39, of Randallstown, Maryland to eight years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute more than 300 grams of fentanyl.  According to the Drug Enforcement Administration .02 milligrams is a lethal dose of fentanyl.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Baltimore City Sheriff John Anderson.

According to his plea agreement, on May 19, 2019, Brown went to a Middle River, Maryland gun range where he possessed and used several firearms including a 9mm handgun, a .22 caliber handgun, 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and 50 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Brown knew that he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as a result of a previous felony conviction.  Brown was subsequently indicted federally for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and was detained pending trial.

In April 2020 Brown was released from pretrial detention pending trial.  However, while on pretrial release, Brown engaged in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl. Specifically, on multiple occasions in October 2020, law enforcement observed Brown leaving a Baltimore apartment where narcotics were stored and traveling to drug shops to supply his customers with narcotics.  On October 16, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the stash location. Upon entering the apartment, law enforcement found Brown and another individual inside the apartment preparing drugs for bulk sale. In total, law enforcement seized 310 grams of fentanyl and $3,190 in drug proceeds.

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 praised the ATF, the DEA, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason D. Medinger, Patricia C. McLane, and Lindsey McCulley, who prosecuted the case.

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

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Baltimore, Maryland – Jason Lawrence Green, age 40, of Salisbury, Maryland, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin, which he sold on the dark web (a part of the internet that is only accessible by using specific software the disguises the true location and identity of computers using the software to communicate). The guilty plea was entered on October 12, 2021.

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; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Dorchester County Sheriff James W. Phillips, Jr.

According to Green’s guilty plea, from at least 2018 through October 2019, Green used an apartment and a storage unit in Salisbury, Maryland to sell and distribute heroin on the dark web and using encrypted email services.

As detailed in the plea agreement, Green initially operated as “CaliClaire” on the Dream Market, a dark web marketplace for controlled substances and other illegal goods.  After Dream Market closed in April 2019, Green sold heroin through encrypted email services under the usernames “CaliClaire” and “clairebear2.”  Green sent the heroin to buyers throughout the country using the U.S. mail (USPS).

For example, on June 20 and August 28, 2018, an undercover investigator purchased one gram of heroin from CaliClaire’s vendor site on Dream Market for approximately $200 in bitcoin.  The next day, law enforcement surveilled Green as he drove a white BMW from his home to the post office in Ocean City, Maryland and Salisbury, respectively, and deposited parcels in a mailbox.  After the BMW drove away, investigators searched the mailbox and recovered the parcel addressed to the address provided to CaliClaire by the undercover investigator.  Each parcel contained one gram of a substance that field-tested positive for heroin.  Investigators also recovered two additional parcels that Green had placed in the mailbox in Salisbury.  After obtaining search warrants, investigators found that the parcels contained 3.5 and 4.5 grams, respectively, of a tan powdery substance that appeared to be heroin.

CaliClaire was inactive on Dream Market from September 7, 2018 until December 4, 2018—the same time that Green was in custody after being arrested by Ocean City police on unrelated state charges.  Green was released on electronic monitoring on December 4, 2018.  Six days later, CaliClaire posted an update on Dream Market claiming that the vendor had taken a “break” due to the loss in value of bitcoin, followed by another update on December 21, 2018 stating that heroin would be available for purchase again starting on December 25, 2018. Dream Market was shut down sometime between January and April 2019. 

In June and September 2019, law enforcement seized two USPS parcels (later found to contain heroin) being shipped to addresses in Fairfax County, Virginia and Washington County, Oregon. Investigators contacted the intended recipients and learned that they were former CaliClaire customers on Dream Market. The Virginia recipient told investigators that CaliClaire had resumed selling heroin directly to customers under the CaliClaire username on Encrypted Email Service A. Investigators learned from the Oregon customer that CaliClaire was also selling heroin directly to customers under the username “clairebear2” on Encrypted Email Service B.

As detailed in the plea agreement, in September and October 2019, investigators conducted two undercover purchases from clairebear2 on Encrypted Mail Service B, each time obtaining 2 grams of heroin for $300 in bitcoin.  Investigators surveilled Green following each undercover purchase.  After the first purchase, investigators observed Green delivering parcels to a drive-up mailbox in Delaware.  The mailbox where Green deposited the parcel was searched and the parcel addressed to the undercover officer was found.  It contained three grams of a substance that field-tested positive for heroin.  After the second purchase, Green was seen accessing a storage unit he was renting and later that day depositing multiple parcels in a mailbox in Berlin, Maryland.  The parcel addressed to the undercover officer was delivered to investigators a few days later and contained a clear zip-top bag holding approximately 2.5 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for heroin.

Search warrants were executed at Green’s residence and storage unit on October 16, 2019.  Law enforcement recovered a total of 77 grams of heroin; approximately 41 grams of cocaine; approximately five grams of MDA, a controlled substance often sold as “ecstasy”; approximately 33 grams of amphetamine; more than 1.4 kilograms of marijuana, with all but 48 grams packaged in heat sealed bags; 334 grams of cutting agent; and drug paraphernalia, including numerous digital scales, a money counter, and packaging materials.  In addition, investigators seized six firearms, including a .40 caliber pistol which had been reported stolen from an officer with the Federal Air Marshal Service; a Level 3A body armor vest; ammunition; $13,796 in cash; mailing materials; a laptop computer and several cellular phones, including an iPhone. 

A subsequent forensic analysis of Green’s iPhone found data of Green’s use of Encrypted Mail Service B and a mobile cryptocurrency storage application which showed that before the phone was seized, the wallet held approximately 15.97 bitcoin, which at that time was worth approximately $130,000.  A forensic analysis of the laptop revealed, among other things, internet searches related to the addresses of customers; the names and addresses of approximately 56 individuals who appeared in either return or recipient addresses on parcels seized during the investigation and found to contain heroin, including undercover purchases; email addresses for Encrypted Email Service A and B; a password to Encrypted Email Service B; USPS tracking numbers, including for the undercover parcels; and approximately 44 PDF files containing USPS shipping labels from nearly every heroin parcel seized during the investigation.

Green and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Green will be sentenced to five years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for February 11, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. 

This case was prosecuted utilizing resources from the Dark Market and Digital Currency Crimes (DMDCC) Task Force. The DMDCC Task Force is a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI – Baltimore, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Food and Drug Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department, targeting the use of dark net marketplaces and digital currencies to facilitate criminal activities. The past several years have witnessed a significant increase in the use of the internet (both the clear net and dark net) and digital currencies to facilitate, for example, the illegal sale and distribution of narcotics and firearms, computer technologies (including hacking tools), and Personal Identifiable Information (PII). In response to this rising threat, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI, and their partners formed the DMDCC Task Force to facilitate stronger collaboration among law enforcement partners combatting these crimes.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Maryland State Police, and the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and Christopher M. Rigali, 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 Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Arsenio Cleckley, a/k/a “Bund”, age 39, of Accokeek, Maryland to eight years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

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; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - Washington Division; and Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry.  

According to Cleckley’s guilty plea, from at least in or about January 2017 through June 2018, Cleckley and his co-conspirators—James Belt, Alphonso Black, Terri Bordeaux, Diamante Hailey, Christina Marshall, Thomas Parker III, Devin Simmons, Williams Stuart, and others—conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack to drug users and other narcotics distributers in Maryland and Washington D.C.

Cleckley also admitted that he acted as a distributor of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack in the Maryland-Washington D.C. area.  For example, on or about May 28, 2018, Cleckley and a co-conspirator purchased more than 200 grams of heroin and fentanyl from a supplier. After the purchase, members of law enforcement intercepted telephone calls revealing that Cleckley and the co-conspirator intended to distribute the heroin and fentanyl.

Cleckley and his co-conspirators also possessed firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking.  Specifically, on or about March 14, 2018, after Cleckley crashed his vehicle and fled the scene, officers located a loaded .45 caliber handgun and more than 40 grams of fentanyl in the vehicle.  As part of his guilty plea, Cleckley admitted that he possessed the .45 caliber handgun to protect his drug supply and drug proceeds and increase his reputation as a drug trafficker.

Additionally, in or about June 2018, after one of his associates was murdered in the Barry Farms area of Southeast, Washington, D.C., Cleckley planned a retaliatory shooting and purchased a AK-47 assault rifle and .40 caliber handgun.  Cleckley also recruited accomplices for the retaliatory shooting. During a subsequent phone call, Cleckley made clear to a co-conspirator that the AK-47 assault rifle was not purchased “for show” and that the firearm needed to “put in work.” In another conversation about his intended targets, Cleckley stated, “I’m going to walk, I’m a stop in the middle of his street, and chase my victims down.”

As stated in his plea agreement, law enforcement arrested Cleckley in a Waldorf, Maryland hotel room where Cleckley had been selling fentanyl. From Cleckley’s hotel room, law enforcement recovered a stolen 9mm handgun with a 32-round extended magazine.

Co-defendants Diamante Lacelle Hailey, a/k/a Tay, age 27 of Clinton, Maryland; James Belt, a/k/a JB, age 32, of Lanham, Maryland; Alphonso Leroy Anthony Black, a/k/a Kobe, age 25 of Temple Hills, Maryland; Terri Bordeaux, a/k/a CeCe and Auntie, age 50, of Washington, D.C.; Christina Marshall, a/k/a Chrissy, age 32, of Accokeek, Maryland; Devin Simmons, age 42, of Marbury, Maryland; and William Stewart, a/k/a Lil’ Will, age 24, also of Marbury, all previously pleaded guilty. Simmons, Belt, Hailey, Stewart, and Black were previously sentenced to periods ranging from time-served to five years in federal prison, each followed by three years of supervised release.  On July 15, 2021, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced co-defendant Thomas Parker III to 90 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Bordeaux and Marshall are currently scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2021 and October 29, 2021, respectively.

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 HSI, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the DEA, and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin B. Pulice and Jennifer L. Wine, who prosecuted the case.

 

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Scott Eli Harris, age 51, of Aubrey, Texas for the federal charges of threats transmitted by interstate communication, related to a threatening message sent to a Maryland medical doctor, who publicly advocated for the COVID-19 vaccine. The indictment was returned on September 29, 2021, and unsealed today upon Harris’ arrest.  Scott has an initial appearance scheduled on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., in U.S. District Court in Plano, Texas.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

“We take seriously threats and intimidation, and this charge makes clear that such conduct will be prosecuted federally,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those making such threats.”

The one-count indictment alleges that, on July 12, 2020, Harris sent a threat from his cell phone to the Maryland doctor who had been a vocal advocate of the Covid-19 vaccine. Harris’ alleged threats included violent statements including “Never going to take your wonder drug. My 12 gauge promises I won’t .… I can’t wait for the shooting to start.”

If convicted, Harris faces a maximum sentence of five years 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.  Harris is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore at a later date.

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 for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham and Trial Attorney Katherine DeVar of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/civil-rights and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced James Dorsey, age 36, of Baltimore, to 90 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. 

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 April 23, 2020, a Baltimore Police Department detective observed a vehicle with a Texas One Trip permit, which allows for the temporary movement of a vehicle subject to Texas registration laws and is valid for a period of 15 days from the effective date. The detective knew that these tags were often used fraudulently and confirmed that this one was invalid. After initiating a traffic stop, the detective noted the order of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Dorsey was identified as the driver of the vehicle.  Dorsey did not possess a driver’s license and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

The detectives searched Dorsey’s person incident to his arrest and discovered several items including a tube and a small ziplock bag containing suspected marijuana. A search of the vehicle Dorsey was driving revealed a black plastic bag filled with empty vials, three cell phones, and two vials containing white rock-like substance that tested positive for cocaine. Officers also located 45 gel caps that were subsequently determined to contain fentanyl and tramadol, a burnt cigar containing suspected marijuana, and a .38 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with three rounds of ammunition.

After being advised of his Miranda rights, Dorsey admitted to being in the area of the marijuana and knowing that the gun was a .38 caliber firearm. Later, Dorsey made several inculpatory jail calls in which he stated that as he was being pulled over he “hurried up” and put “that stuff” in the glove compartment, so that he could “beat” the criminal charges.

The BPD Drug Analysis Unit tested the substances within all the recovered gelcaps and determined that the gelcaps contained fentanyl and tramadol. Further, the rock-like substance contained in the vials tested positive for cocaine.

Also as part of his plea Dorsey admitted that the control substances located in the vehicle were intended to be sold and distributed and that he knowingly possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

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 praised the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Gallena, who prosecuted the case.

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

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Baltimore, Maryland – Chief United States District Judge James K. Bredar today swore in Erek L. Barron as the 49th United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.

As the United States Attorney, Mr. Barron is the chief federal law enforcement officer in the District of Maryland. Mr. Barron oversees the investigation and litigation of all criminal and civil cases brought on behalf of the United States in the District of Maryland. He supervises an office of approximately 98 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 73 support personnel, who handle a high volume of cases including domestic and international terrorism, narcotics trafficking, organized crime, gang violence, public corruption, cybercrime, financial and healthcare fraud and civil rights violations.

Before taking office as the United States Attorney, Mr. Barron was a partner in a law firm in Maryland, with a focus on complex business and criminal litigation. Mr. Barron was also a member of the Maryland House of Delegates where he served as a member of the Maryland Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council and co-authored bipartisan legislation designed to enhance public safety, reduce corrections spending, and reinvest savings in evidence-based strategies to decrease crime and recidivism. Mr. Barron was also responsible for numerous legislative measures addressing criminal justice and behavioral health, including bills curbing opioid abuse and mandating treatment for opioid addiction and services for mentally ill individuals. Mr. Barron previously served as President-Elect of the Maryland State Bar Association and President of the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association.

Mr. Barron began his career as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County and then Baltimore City, working primarily as a violent crime prosecutor. He continued his public service as a Trial Attorney in the United States Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, where he handled regional and national gang and organized crime investigations and prosecutions. He then served as Counsel and Policy Advisor to then-Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the United States Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, where he focused on law enforcement, crime policy and oversight of the United States Department of Justice.

Mr. Barron received his B.A. degree from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1996 and received his law degree from George Washington University Law School in 1999. In 2007, Mr. Barron earned an advanced law degree, focused on International and National Security Law, from Georgetown University Law Center.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Douglas Vines, age 50, of Owings Mills, Maryland pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Vines to 78 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release.

The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; and Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division (USPIS).

According to his guilty plea, as a result of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the Baltimore area, the USPIS and DEA linked Vines with Baltimore-area properties that received mail parcels believed to contain controlled substances.

On February 10, 2021, investigators recovered a USPS parcel sent by Vines to an associate. Approximately 2.8 grams of fentanyl were retrieved from the box along with Vines’ fingerprints from the interior of the parcel. On March 19, 2021, Vines mailed 83.5 grams of fentanyl in exchange for $5,000.

In addition, on April 28, 2021, law enforcement observed Vines mailing a parcel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniaand executed a search warrant on Vines’ parcel, recovering 90 grams of cocaine and 30 grams of fentanyl.

As stated in his plea agreement, on June 16, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Vines’ residence and at a relative’s residence. As a result of the search warrants, officers recovered 101.58 grams of fentanyl, 0.76 grams of heroin, 27.62 grams of cocaine, $20,000 in U.S. currency, as well as various packaging and weighing materials.

On June 21, 2021, Vines asked an associate to help him acquire new identity documents in order for Vines to “set up shop” elsewhere. During the week of July 17, 2021, Vines “ordered” a false photo ID, social security card, passport, and sent a picture of himself to an associate to acquire the false identification papers.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the USPIS and DEA for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason X. Hamilton and Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Warwick who prosecuted the case.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – Alicia Marie Walls, age 28, of Bowie, Maryland; and Andrew Joseph Trimmer, age 32, of Bowie, Maryland pleaded guilty on October 4, 2021 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Trimmer also pled guilty to assault on a federal officer.   

The guilty pleas were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division (DEA); and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

According to their guilty pleas, between May 2018 to September 2020, Walls and Trimmer conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

Specifically, on May 28, 2018, in Bowie, Maryland, Trimmer sold fentanyl to Victim A. During the narcotics transaction, Victim A and Victim A’s friends ingested the heroin that Trimmer distributed. Shortly after ingestion, Victim A overdosed and lost consciousness. After receiving life support treatment, Victim A survived the overdose, which constituted a serious bodily injury.

Prior to the overdose on May 28, 2018, Trimmer distributed at least one gram of heroin and fentanyl to Victim A approximately two times per week for two years. Trimmer and Walls had numerous narcotics customers in the Bowie area, including two other victims, Victim B and Victim C. In partnership, Walls and Trimmer distributed at least 240 grams of heroin/fentanyl to Victims B and Victim C.

Occasionally, Trimmer and Walls sold narcotics in the presence of their minor child who was under the age of three years old.

On July 16, 2019, while caring for a minor child, Walls ingested narcotics and fell asleep. While asleep, the nine-month-old child obtained narcotics from Wall’s belongings, ingested the narcotics, and subsequently overdosed. Walls and Trimmer transported the child to a nearby hospital where healthcare workers revived the child. After receiving additional lifesaving measures, the child survived.

Following the child’s overdose, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Walls and Trimmer’s hotel room on September 25, 2020. As agents announced themselves, Trimmer yelled “Alicia! I’m not going back!” and attempted to flee on foot. After disregarding law enforcement’s commands to stop, Officer A attempted to physically stop Trimmer from fleeing. Trimmer then proceeded to grab the officers body armor and began to physically assault Officer A. Eventually, Trimmer was apprehended. Officer A sustained a torn meniscus as a result of the assault.

After searching Trimmer’s person, law enforcement recovered approximately 30 grams of fentanyl, two cell phones and $1,143 from Trimmer’s jacket. Trimmer and Walls agreed that the $1,143 recovered were proceeds of narcotics sales. Subsequent lab results confirmed that the narcotics in Trimmer’s jacket was fentanyl mixed with diphenhydramine and etizolam. From Trimmer’s car, officers seized four digital scales, plastic sandwich bags, and razor blades. Officers also seized numerous luxurious items including a Louis Vuitton Josh backpack, a men’s diamond 14kt yellow gold cross pendant and chain, a woman’s diamond 14kt rose gold cross pendant, a Louis Vuitton flower hobo purse, a Louis Vuitton NeoNoe Azur handbag, and a 2015 Audi A-4 sedan.

As stated in their plea agreements, after Trimmer was taken into custody on September 25, 2020, Walls continued to sell heroin and fentanyl in the southern Maryland area. In October 2020, two narcotics customers, Victim B and Victim C obtained fentanyl and heroin from Walls and then subsequently overdosed from the narcotics. Both Victims were treated for advanced life support and ultimately survived.

Walls was arrested on February 4, 2021. During her arrest officers recovered approximately $16,024 of drug proceeds. The drug proceeds were funds that had been previously buried in the woods. In total, Walls and Trimmer agreed that it is reasonably foreseeable that the conspiracy distributed at least 240 grams of heroin/fentanyl.

Walls and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Walls will be sentenced to between 71 months and 87 months in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has scheduled sentencing for January 20, 2022 at 1 p.m.

Trimmer and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Trimmer will be sentenced to between 114 months and 132 months in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has scheduled sentencing for Trimmer for November 22, 2021 at 1 p.m.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA and PGPD for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin B. Pulice, who is prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging Delmarcus Branford, a/k/a “Baydo,” age 31, of Elkridge, Maryland, for the federal charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances—specifically, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  According to court documents, Branford allegedly committed these crimes while on federal supervised release.

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; 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 Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Chief Edward Jackson of the Annapolis Police Department; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Marilyn Mosby.

The three-count indictment and other court documents allege that during 2020 Branford conducted drug transactions, including selling crack cocaine to undercover law enforcement officers on several occasions.  Branford was subsequently indicted under seal in Baltimore City Circuit Court and a federal arrest warrant was issued base on a notice of violation of supervised release.  Court documents further allege that Branford continued selling drugs, posting several photos of himself with large amounts of cash, luxury vehicles and high-end clothing and other items on social media, as a symbol of his success in his illicit business.

As detailed in court documents, Branford was arrested on August 19, 2021 on the federal warrant for violation of his supervised release.  Simultaneously, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Branford’s residence, seizing approximately $38,854 in cash, cell phones, and other electronic devices.  A search warrant was also obtained for the Maserati that law enforcement had observed Branford driving, after a trained controlled substance-detecting K-9 positively alerted to the presence of drugs.  Court documents alleges that during the search of the Maserati, law enforcement recovered a semi-automatic firearm; a black trash bag and a gray bag both containing controlled substances; and a digital scale with drug residue.  From the vehicle, law enforcement allegedly recovered a total of approximately 499.46 grams of cocaine; 25.66 grams of fentanyl; and a large quantity of marijuana.

Search warrants were subsequently obtained for cell phones used by Branford that were seized during the August 19, 2021 search.  The phones allegedly contain evidence of drug trafficking, including videos and photos of drugs, and shrink-wrapped bundles of cash.

If convicted, Branford faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life in federal prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  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.  Branford is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, at a later date.  Branford has been detained since his arrest on the federal warrant for violating his supervised release and a federal criminal complaint filed on September 28, 2021.

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 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.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, the DEA, the Anne Arundel County, Annapolis, and Baltimore Police Departments, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas P. Windom and LaRai Everett, who are prosecuting the case.

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

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Baltimore, Maryland – Fernando Cristancho, age 65, of Bel Air, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to coercion and enticement of a minor who he met through the church to engage in illegal sexual activity.  Cristancho also admitted that he produced nude images of four other minor victims.

The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler; and Harford County State’s Attorney Albert Peisinger.

According to his guilty plea, Cristancho was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in Colombia, South America, in 1985 and moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where he worked as an assistant priest from 1994 to 1997.  In approximately 1999, Cristancho was granted faculties to work as a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and worked as a priest in Baltimore County, and then at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Harford County.  In 2002, the Archdiocese of Baltimore revoked Cristancho’s faculties to work as a priest in the Archdiocese. 

John Doe was 11, 12, and 13 years old at the time of the offenses against him. John Doe’s family were members of St. Ignatius.  Not long after Cristancho arrived at St. Ignatius in 1999, he began to spend time with John Doe’s family outside of church, including meals at restaurants and the family’s home, and at family gatherings.  John Doe also became a lector at the church, with Cristancho working with him and coaching him in that process. 

Beginning when John Doe was 11, Cristancho would complain of a bad back and ask John Doe for back rubs; offered John Doe alcohol; took John Doe to dinner, kissed John Doe, acted as if they were in a romantic relationship, and told him that he loved him.  Cristancho also showed John Doe pornography including movies of sex acts between males and suggesting they do the same sexual activities. 

After Cristancho was no longer working at the church, he arranged to hold religious services in the home of a parishioner, with John Doe performing as a lector or altar server.  In the summer of 2002, Cristancho invited himself to attend John Doe’s family’s camping trip and arranged to sleep next to John Doe in a tent.  Following the camping trip, Cristancho arranged for John Doe to assist around Cristancho’s house, including with his infant children.  Eventually, Cristancho arranged to have John Doe spend the weekend, which John Doe did on a regular basis well into 2003.  It was during these weekends that Cristancho sexually abused John Doe.  Cristancho sexually abused John Doe from 2002 through at least Fall 2003.

In September 2017, Cristancho went to a retail pharmacy to use the store’s photo printing equipment. While assisting Cristancho, a store employee observed some of the images on Cristancho’s iPhone, including several photos of naked children and an image of what appeared to be a bite mark on a young boy’s buttocks.  The employee made a report to police.  Law enforcement initiated an investigation, and a search warrant was executed at Cristancho’s residence on September 19, 2017.  During the search warrant, investigators seized various digital devices, including an iPhone 6s.  A subsequent forensic examination of the phone recovered nude photos and videos of four other minor victims, with most of the images being recorded when the victims were less than five years old.

Cristancho and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Cristancho will be sentenced to between 10 years and 25 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for December 20, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. As part of his plea agreement, upon his release from prison, Cristancho 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).  

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.       

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended HSI, the Maryland State Police, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution and thanked the Harford County Child Advocacy Center for its assistance.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Colleen E. McGuinn, 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 – As a result of a collaborative investigation, today a federal grand jury returned an indictment, and a state criminal information has been filed, charging Roy C. McGrath, age 52, of Naples, Florida, for allegedly fraudulently obtaining funds from Maryland Environmental Service corporation. The criminal information also alleges that McGrath illegally recorded private conversations with senior Maryland state officials. 

McGrath is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore and a state court appearance in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, but no dates have been set for those hearings.

The federal and state charges were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton Howard III; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

“It is an honor and privilege to serve one’s community, and public officials are entrusted to place the interests of citizens above their own,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner.  “Our federal and state law enforcement team in Maryland will always hold accountable public officials who betray the public trust for their personal gain.  Maryland residents should always demand honesty and integrity from those in government, and hopefully this indictment offers the public some level of confidence that we are committed to prosecuting those who violate that trust.”

“Our office will seek to hold accountable any public official who abuses the privileges of their office for corrupt reasons or illicit personal gain. The Office of the State Prosecutor will continue to work collaboratively with our partners to ensure the public’s interests are protected,” said Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton Howard.

“According to this indictment, Roy McGrath misappropriated public money for his own benefit. From personal travel to even obtaining a certificate from one of the most prestigious universities in the nation, McGrath’s alleged actions were self-serving and ultimately self-sabotaging,” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out public corruption and holding officials like him accountable.”

According to the six-count federal indictment filed today in U.S. District Court and the 27-count criminal information filed in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, on December 27, 2016, McGrath was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to serve as Executive Director of Maryland Environmental Service (MES), a corporation owned by the State of Maryland to provide environmental services such as water and wastewater management, solid waste management, composting, recycling, dredged material management and other services to state and local government agencies, federal government entities, and private clients. MES, which was headquartered in Millersville, Maryland, generated its operating funds from fees charged to governmental and private clients for its services, as well as from federal grants and funding from federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Department of Transportation.  MES functioned as an independent state corporation which did not pay its employees according to the state government pay scale, but did require its employees to comply with state travel regulations, annual leave policies, and policies regarding compensatory leave, and time and attendance reporting. McGrath resigned from MES as of May 31, 2020, to become the Governor’s Chief of Staff effective as of June 1, 2020.

The federal and state charges allege that from March 2019 through December 2020, McGrath personally enriched himself by using his positions of trust as the Executive Director of MES and the chief of staff for the Governor of Maryland to cause MES to make payments to McGrath, or on his behalf, to which he was not entitled. 

Specifically, the federal indictment and state criminal information allege: that McGrath caused MES funds to be paid to a museum where he was a member of the Board of Directors instead of using his personal funds to pay his pledge to the museum; that McGrath caused the MES Board of Directors to approve paying McGrath a $233,647.23 severance payment—equal to one year’s salary—upon his departure from MES by falsely telling them that the Governor was aware of and approved the payment; that McGrath caused MES to pay tuition benefits for McGrath after he left MES by personally approving reimbursements for payments made by Subordinate Employee #1 on McGrath's behalf; and that McGrath falsified his time sheets, reporting that he was at work while on two separate vacations in 2019. 

The state criminal information also alleges that, during his tenure at MES and later as the Governor’s Chief of Staff, McGrath illegally recorded private conversations involving senior state officials without their permission,

The indictment alleges that to conceal the payments and circumstances surrounding the payments from the Governor of Maryland and the MES Board of Directors, McGrath falsely told the MES Board that the Governor was aware of and consented to the severance payment.  As detailed in the indictment, when the Governor learned about the severance package and questioned McGrath about it, McGrath falsely stated that the MES Board of Directors had offered him the severance payment in accordance with their usual practice.  McGrath also attempted to delete or caused to be deleted from the public minutes of the MES Board of Directors meeting, any mention of compensation of McGrath or the Executive Director of MES, or the amount $233,647.23, or the description of the compensation as a “year’s salary.”

If convicted of the federal charges, McGrath faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of four counts of wire fraud; and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for each of two counts of embezzling funds from an organization receiving more than $10,000 in federal benefits. 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. 

In the state case, McGrath faces a maximum penalty of any sentence that is not cruel or unusual for Misconduct by a Public Official, and a maximum of five years in prison for Felony Theft, Felony Theft Scheme, Misappropriation, and for each violation of the Maryland Wiretap Statute. 

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

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner and State Prosecutor Charlton Howard commended the FBI and Special Agent Daniel Bralove at the Office of the State Prosecutor for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner and Mr. Howard thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce K. McDonald and Deputy State Prosecutor Sarah R. David, who are prosecuting the federal and state 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 – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced convictions in six federal cases involving firearms and fentanyl that are being prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.  These six cases were brought pursuant to initiatives of the U.S. Attorney’s Office designed to reduce gun violence and to stop the sale of fentanyl in Baltimore.

“The successful prosecutions and convictions in these six firearms and fentanyl cases demonstrates the United States Attorney’s Office’s commitment to addressing gun violence and the trafficking of fentanyl,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner.  “Our strategy to reduce violent crime in Baltimore relies on enforcement efforts to prosecute those individuals who are driving the violence and importing deadly drugs, as well as community outreach and prevention efforts to help potential offenders make better choices for themselves and their families and communities.  I would like to thank all of the prosecutors, investigators and community outreach specialists for their dedication to making our communities safer places to live for all residents.  All of us in Baltimore are in this fight against violent crime together.”

The six project safe neighborhood convictions from this week include:  

United States v. Sedrick Sutton: On September 17, 2021, U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Sutton to five years in federal prison for being possessing a stolen firearm. As a result of an altercation observed on a city watch camera, law enforcement identified Sutton as an individual that was present at the altercation. At the time of the altercation, Sutton possessed a handgun in his waistband. Officers arrived at the scene and located Sutton. As a result of a search of Sutton’s persons, officers recovered a loaded handgun from his waistband.

United States v. Daiquan Mayo: On September 29, 2021, U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Mayo to 50 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Mayo was apprehended for his participation in a non-fatal West Baltimore shooting near Edmonson Village. Mayo was a passenger in a vehicle involved in the shooting. As law enforcement officers stopped the vehicle, Mayo fled on foot and threw a loaded .40 caliber pistol off of his persons. Ballistics analysis concluded that the firearm Mayo threw matched the gun used in the shooting minutes earlier.

United States v. Damien Parker: On September 28, 2021, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Parker to 60 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing comes as a result of officers observing Parker conducting a suspected drug transactions Baltimore, Maryland. Officers also observed the Parker conducting "security checks" which is a characteristic of an armed individual. Patrol officers responded to the block and arrested Parker. As a result of a search, officers recovered a loaded firearm, 43 jugs of suspected cocaine packaged for distribution.

United States v. Jeffrey Keyser: On September 28, 2021, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Keyser to 44 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing comes as a result of a traffic stop on a vehicle that Keyser was operating. As officers approached Keyser’s vehicle, Kesyer sped away and crashed into another car. When pulling Keyser out of the vehicle, police found a firearm on the floor by the driver-side front door. Swabs from non-bloodied portions of the gun returned a match for Keyser's DNA. Keyser also made incriminating statements over jail calls.

United States v. George Graham: Today, Graham is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher for possession of a firearm as a prohibited person. The sentencing comes as a result of officers using real time investigations, and conducting a traffic stop of Graham’s vehicle for illegal tint and a cracked windshield. During the stop, officers noted the order of marijuana coming from the vehicle and asked the Graham to step out of the vehicle. Graham admitted to having marijuana on his person. As officers searched the vehicle, Graham attempted to flee the scene. As a result of the search, officers recovered a loaded firearm from the center console.

United States v. Qarier Lovelace: Today, Lovelace is expected to enter a guilty plea for being a felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher. The plea comes as a result of officers responding to a hospital alter for an non-fatal shooting victim. Upon responding, officers spoke with a male who advised he had been shot while present at a dispute between his girlfriend and another woman. While present at the scene, a male walked through the parking lot before approaching the group, advising the women to resolve their dispute, and shooting the male in the leg. Upon reviewing a photo, a victim identified Lovelace as the shooter. Based on this, officers obtained and executed a search warrant associated with Lovelace. As a result of the search warrant, Officers recovered a safe with two loaded firearms, ammunition, two knotted bags of white powder, and paperwork bearing Lovelace’s name. One of these firearms was reported stolen from a federal firearm license in 2017. Lovelace’s fingerprints were located on the firearm. Officers also recovered parts of a revolver, ammunition, bags of white and brown powders, drug paraphernalia, and a digital scale. CDS analysis showed the presence of heroin and cocaine. During a post-Miranda interview, the defendant admitted to living at the residence, ownership of the drugs, and ownership of the safe.

The continued success of the firearm reduction initiative in Baltimore is in part due to the work of the Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs) who work in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and are employed by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City and funded through grants from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth & Victim Services. 

In the effort to positively influence and encourage previous offenders to pursue a crime-free lifestyle, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland supports and often participates in previous offender re-entry efforts. On October 13, 2021, the USAO-MD is supporting a re-entry resource fair hosted by the Bridge Center at Adam’s House, the Prince George’s County Reentry Advisory Board, the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Office, and the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections at the Palmer Park Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The re-entry event will connect past offenders with employment opportunities as well as educational, financial, health resources, and more. For more information on the re-entry event, please visit https://twitter.com/USAO_MD/status/1444010091896836130.

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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Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned a second superseding indictment charging Scott Anthony Williams, age 45, of Laurel, Maryland and Taeyan Raymond Williams, age 26, of Morgantown, West Virginia with various federal charges arising out of the robbery, extortion, and kidnapping resulting in death of Victim 1, as well as related drug trafficking and firearms charges.  Scott Williams is further charged with conspiracy to destroy and conceal evidence related to these crimes.

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; 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 the nine-count indictment, from approximately October 2017 until Victim 1’s murder on April 6, 2018, Scott Williams, and his son, Taeyan Williams, allegedly participated in the exchange and sale of marijuana and cocaine. Victim 1 allegedly sold and distributed marijuana and marijuana products to the defendants, which the defendants then allegedly sold to other distributors and drug customers. Victim 1 also allegedly purchased and received cocaine from the defendants and sold that cocaine to other distributors. 

As alleged in the indictment, in April 2018, Victim 1 planned to meet the defendants to discuss a debt that the defendants owed to Victim 1, and to provide the defendants with marijuana and marijuana products.

On April 5, 2018, and April 6, 2018, Victim 1 retrieved controlled substances from his storage unit in Jessup, Maryland and stayed at a short-term rental property in Baltimore, Maryland.

On the afternoon of April 6, Victim 1 traveled from Baltimore to Laurel, Maryland, where Scott Williams had a home.  Location data reflects that at 1:32 p.m., Victim 1 was approximately 1.5 miles from the defendants’ residence.

On April 6, 2018, at approximately 1:52 p.m., Victim 1 saved a note to his email account in which it is alleged Victim-1 maintained a ledger and accounting of controlled substances that Victim 1 sold to Taeyan Williams and monies paid or owed from him.

As alleged in the indictment, Scott and Taeyan Williams thereafter kidnapped, robbed, extorted and murdered Victim 1 and disposed of Victim 1’s body.  In particular, the indictment alleges that the defendants took by force and the threat of force Victim-1’s marijuana and marijuana products, Victim-1’s PIN number for the Jessup storage unit, Victim-1’s rental vehicle, and the marijuana, marijuana products, cash and other property stored in Victim-1’s storage unit.

Specifically, the indictment alleges that on April 7, 2018, Scott Williams and other conspirators drove Victim 1’s vehicle to a Baltimore parking lot where they parked the vehicle, wiped it down with a rag, and then entered Scott Williams’s car before driving away. As stated in the indictment, Victim 1’s DNA and blood were later recovered from the rear bumper, lift gate, passenger side door frame, and trunk carpeting of Victim 1’s abandoned vehicle.

The indictment further alleges that between April 6, 2018 and June 6, 2018, the defendants hid Victim-1’s narcotics throughout their home. When searched on June 6, 2018, the home contained large quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine as well as four firearms: a 9mm handgun, 7.62 caliber-rifle, .38 caliber handgun, and .25 caliber handgun. 

The last count of the indictment alleges that between June 6, 2018 and his initial appearance on federal charges in January 2019, Scott Williams sought to conceal and destroy evidence related to the ongoing investigation including by asking a conspirator to “wipe” his electronic storage account and phone.   

If convicted, Scott and Tayean Williams face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison or death for kidnapping resulting in death; a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery and extortion and interference with interstate commerce by robbery and extortion; a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; and, a mandatory minimum of 7 years in federal prison for the possession, use, and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime. In addition, Scott Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment for possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; a mandatory consecutive sentence of 5 years imprisonment for possession and use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to conceal and destroy evidence. 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.  Both defendants have been detained pending trial, which is set to begin March 7, 2022.

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. 

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA, HSI, and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau, Dana J. Brusca, and Dwight J. Draughon 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Darnell Gerald Gaither, Jr., age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to affecting commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm in relation to a violent crime, specifically in relation to 35 armed robberies committed throughout Baltimore County, Maryland.    

The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; 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 robberies throughout Maryland. 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 other robberies, Gaither passed notes to an employee that stated he possessed a gun.

Specifically, on October 25, 2019, Gaither robbed a Baltimore, Maryland 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 stated that he would kill the victim if she did not open the register. The cashier opened the register and Gaither then ordered the cashier and two other employees to the floor while he removed the cash from the register. Gaither then proceeded to order three employees to open the safe in a back area and hand him additional cash. Gaither took funds from the franchise and fled the store.

Five days later on October 30, 2019, Gaither robbed a Baltimore, Maryland 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 in U.S. currency to Gaither, who then fled the store.

The stores Gaither robbed included fast-food restaurants, general stores, cell phone stores, gaming stores, a gym, and chain pharmacies.  Gaither robbed a number of the stores on more than one occasion.

The tellers, fearing for their personal safety, often provided Gaither with cash from their registers, ranging from a couple hundred dollars to $1,900.

Gaither faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for affecting commerce by robbery and a minimum seven years in federal prison for brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for December 6, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department and the Baltimore City Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who is prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment today charging Ethan Glover, age 49, of Baltimore, Maryland, for the federal charges of false statements to law enforcement. Glover joined the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) on February 19, 2003.  He became a federal task force officer (TFO) with the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2013. 

The superseding indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

The superseding indictment alleges that Glover stole $1,000 in informant funds from the Baltimore Police Department.

Allegedly, in August 2018, Glover offered to pay a witness for information regarding a Baltimore City, Maryland vehicular homicide. Glover allegedly contacted the witness to arrange a date, time, and location to meet and exchange the information for a $1,000 payment. Once the witness signed paperwork provided by Glover and another individual, Glover paid the witness $1,000 sourced from the Baltimore Police Department Fiscal Section.

After the meeting with Glover, the witness ultimately decided not to serve as a BPD informant and wanted to return the $1,000 payment to Glover. The witness then returned the payment to Glover. Allegedly, Glover subsequently kept the $1,000 for himself and did not return it to BPD.

The original two-count indictment alleges, on April 8, 2016 Glover participated in the execution of a search warrant on John Avenue as a member of DEA Group 51.  Law enforcement recovered three duffel bags containing large amounts of cash and a handwritten document with currency totals stating there was $2,428,900 in the house.  Glover transported the cash from the residence to another location where a search warrant had been executed, and then to the DEA Baltimore Office, alone in his vehicle the entire time.  The indictment alleges that during the drive from John Avenue to the DEA Baltimore Office, Glover stole a portion of the cash seized at the John Avenue residence.  Ultimately, Glover took the seized cash to a professional counting service due to the large amount.  The counting service found that the amount of cash seized, inclusive of any suspected counterfeit bills, totaled $2,419,125, which is $9,775 less than what was actually seized at the John Avenue residence, according to the handwritten document recovered within the home. 

The indictment further alleges that Glover went to his then-girlfriend’s apartment with what he described to her as $10,000 in cash.  Glover allegedly hid the funds in her bathroom.  During conversations about the money, Glover told his girlfriend that he was followed by another law enforcement while driving the cash from the search warrant site and that the money came from a “big case” that had been recently featured on the news.  Approximately one week later, Glover allegedly moved the money from his girlfriend’s apartment to his home. 

On April 23, 2016, Glover allegedly used some of the cash stolen from the John Avenue search to buy his then-girlfriend a pair of shoes valued at $295 from a mall in Pennsylvania.  According to the indictment, in June 2016, his then-girlfriend moved into his home and saw a large sum of money hidden behind Glover’s refrigerator.

As detailed in the indictment and superseding indictment, on February 28, 2020, Glover participated in a voluntary interview with the FBI about a seizure that had occurred with the officer-in-charge of BPD’s Gun Trace Task Force.  Before being questioned, Glover confirmed that he understood that it was a crime to lie to the FBI agents interviewing him.  When questioned, Glover asked the interviewing agent how much the arrestee “is saying is missing?  Is it money or drugs?  How much did he say he had?  A million?” or words to that effect.  Glover told investigators that he did not witness any officer steal money during this seizure.  Glover also stated that he did not steal money from this particular seizure or any other case, saying, “I’ve never stolen anything in my life.  Never money or drugs.”

If convicted, Glover faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for theft of government property and five years in federal prison for making false statements to federal law enforcement.  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.  No court appearance is currently scheduled for Glover. 

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. 

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Christine Goo, who are prosecuting this case.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced David Laufer, age 64, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, formerly of Bethesda, Maryland, today to eight months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, four months of which is to be served in home confinement, for acceptance of gratuities by a public official.  Judge Chuang also ordered Laufer, the former Chief of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department at Walter Reed Medical Center, to pay restitution in the amount of $7,890.62.

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to his plea agreement, from 2009 until May 2019, Laufer worked as the Chief of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the largest joint military medical center in the United States.  Walter Reed is located in Bethesda and provides medical services, including orthotic and prosthetic services to U.S. service members and their dependents, including wounded soldiers.  Bruce Thomas lived in Montgomery County and owned, operated, and controlled Pinnacle Orthopedic Services (Pinnacle), located in Germantown, Maryland.  Pinnacle provided prosthetics and orthotics materials to Walter Reed in return for payments from the government. 

“David Laufer accepted thousands of dollars in cash and other gifts from a company to which he steered government business worth millions in taxpayer funds,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner.  “Laufer’s illegal acts not only unfairly helped Pinnacle Orthopedic Services, his actions also hurt other businesses and caused the U.S. government to pay more for goods and services than it should have.  We are committed to holding accountable public officials like David Laufer who undermine the market and abuse their positions in government to benefit themselves at the expense of the taxpayers.”

“Attempting to defraud the government is a losing proposition,” said Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division's Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “This sentencing is yet another example of the great cooperation among federal law enforcement agencies to put a stop to fraud within the contracting community.”

As detailed in the plea agreement, from 2010 until May 2019, the Walter Reed Prosthetics and Orthotics department used Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) to order and purchase prosthetics and orthotics materials.  This allowed the department to obligate funds to purchase materials that employees could order without charging a credit card each time or engaging in a formal contract for each purchase.  Thomas regularly interacted with Laufer about Pinnacle’s business with Walter Reed, including the award of BPAs, future BPA funding, orders charged against the BPAs, and fulfillment of orders.  Walter Reed awarded multiple BPAs to Pinnacle, which the Prosthetics and Orthotics department used to order and purchase prosthetics and orthotics materials from Pinnacle. 

According to court documents, between 2012 and 2016, Laufer and his wife received things of value, that is the airlines travel, lodging and entertainment tickets, as well as direct cash payments, for and because of Laufer’s official acts as the Chief of the Prosthetics and Orthotics department and Laufer’s official acts in connection with the purchase of prosthetics and orthotics materials from Pinnacle.  Laufer admitted that he undertook official acts in connection with the gratuities, including seeking renewal of BPAs with Pinnacle, sending multiple purchase requests obligating millions of dollars to Pinnacle for prosthetics and orthotics materials, and causing the repeated ordering of supplies from Pinnacle.

Laufer admitted that he restricted the availability of BPAs to some of the manufacturers and distributors from whom Pinnacle purchased products, thereby inhibiting those companies from doing business directly with Walter Reed, and actively encouraged and directed those companies to sell to Walter Reed through Pinnacle, knowing that it would result in a higher price to the government.  At the same time that he was funneling business through Pinnacle, Laufer was personally involved in ordering materials and causing materials to be ordered from Pinnacle, as well as taking official acts that impacted Pinnacle. 

According to the plea agreement, Laufer’s job required him to complete annual Confidential Financial Disclosure forms which required him to report: all sources of outside income greater than $200; any business outside the U.S. Government in which Laufer or his spouse was an employee or consultant, whether or not compensated; any agreements or arrangements concerning past, current, and future employment; and travel-related reimbursement or other gifts totaling more than $350 from any one source during the reporting period.  Laufer’s financial disclosure filings from 2014 to 2019 failed to disclose the financial benefits received from Pinnacle. 

Furthermore, when interviewed by federal agents as part of a corruption investigation at Walter Reed, Laufer denied receiving any financial benefits from Pinnacle.  Laufer also was interviewed by federal agents several times between 2017 and 2019 concerning unexplained cash deposits.  On each occasion, Laufer lied to the agents, initially stating that he earned extra money from the purchase and sale of bicycles and small collectibles at swap meets, then falsely stating that he earned cash by working for Person C and Company C, and finally stating that the unexplained cash came from moonshine and liquor sales.

On September 9, 2021, Judge Chuang sentenced Thomas, to eight months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, with four months of that to be served in home confinement, for paying gratuities to a public official in exchange for official acts.  Judge Chuang also ordered Thomas to pay a fine of $50,0000 and forfeit and pay restitution in the amount of $27,890.62.

In a related case, another employee of the Walter Reed Prosthetics and Orthotics Department, Timothy Hamilton, age 60, of Columbia, Maryland, is expected to be sentenced in November 2021.  Hamilton previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and to acts affecting a financial interest.  Hamilton admitted that beginning in 2009, he allowed Person A to use his orthotist certification for Person A’s business, Company A.  Hamilton was aware that Company A used his certification to obtain national accreditation and as part of its documentation for Medicare credentialing, which allowed Company A to bill insurers for medical treatment that required the involvement of a certified orthotist, even though Hamilton was not providing those services in the vast majority of cases.  Hamilton admitted that he received monthly financial payments from Company A from 2009 until October 2015, totaling more than $45,000.  From 2011 to 2015, Company A used Hamilton’s credentials to submit more than 225 fraudulent insurance claims of more than $150,000.

Further, Hamilton admitted receiving more than $15,000 in gift cards, checks, and other benefits such as tickets and lodging, from Bruce Thomas and Pinnacle.  During the time that Hamilton was receiving payments from Company A and Pinnacle, Hamilton ordered products on behalf of Walter Reed from both companies.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DCIS, HHS OIG, and the FBI for their work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit, the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General, DOD Cyber Crimes Center Defense Cyber Forensics Laboratory, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency for their assistance.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Dana Brusca, who are prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Lloyd Linwood Comer, age 59, of Brandywine, Maryland, and Doreen Gilmore, age 54, of Brandywine, Maryland for the federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, the substantive charge of bank fraud, false statement in a passport application, and aggravated identity theft. 

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Jessica Moore; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division.

According to the four-count indictment, from January 2019, from January 2021, Comer and Gilmore conspired with others to finance the purchase of vehicles by using the stolen identities of real persons, fraudulent checks, and misappropriated bank account numbers. Allegedly, in at least one occasion, the defendants did not make payments on fraudulently obtained loans and retained the vehicles for themselves.

Specifically, the indictment alleges that the defendants fraudulently obtained the vehicles by inserting false loan application information with misappropriated names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and fraudulent proof of identity submitted to lenders. Lenders then approved financing for vehicle loans based on the false applications.

The indictment continues to allege that Comer applied for a United States passport by falsely stating that he was Victim 1, a deceased man. In order to obtain the passport, Comer allegedly provided a fraudulently obtained identification card in Victim 1’s identity and provided Victim 1’s birth certificate as proof of identity, allegedly obtained by Gilmore. As alleged in the indictment, Comer contacted the Social Security Administration to report Victim 1’s death as erroneous and attributed the error to the fact that Victim 1’s name is the same name as Victim 1’s deceased father. Soon after obtaining the false documents, Comer allegedly traveled to Jamaica with Gilmore under Victim 1’s identity and passport. 

In addition, Comer and Gilmore allegedly submitted a mortgage application in the name of a 76-year-old woman for the purchase of a residence in Brandywine, Maryland in the amount of $541,500. As stated in the indictment, the application falsely represented the woman’s employment status as a full-time employee of two separate business entities. On the mortgage application, Comer and Gilmore allegedly listed their contact information under the woman’s contact information, submitted fraudulent financial documents, and falsely stated the woman’s income and finances. 

Further, Comer and Gilmore allegedly resided in the home instead of the 76-year-old woman and did not make any payments on the mortgage loan.

If convicted, Gilmore and Comer face a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud; a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud; 10 years in federal prison for passport fraud; and two years in federal prison consecutive to any sentence imposed for aggravated identity theft. 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. 

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DSS and SSA OIG for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Davio and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Maddox, 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.  For more information on how to report fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Cornelius Hendrix, age 19, of Starkville, to Maryland to 37 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for arson within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction. 

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. 

According to his guilty plea, on August 21, 2020 Hendrix poured lighter fluid in areas of his father’s and stepmother’s Fort Meade military home, including outside his parents’ bedroom door, and the front door welcome mat. The presence of an ignitable liquid was also detected at the top of the stairs near his father’s and stepmother’s bedroom.

Hendrix then ignited a fire within the home before jumping off the rear porch and injuring his leg.

As stated in his plea agreement, the fire was extinguished with minimal property damage and no physical injuries. However, Hendrix’s father and stepmother’s lives were placed in jeopardy as a result of Hendrix’s conduct. 

After being medically evaluated and cleared, Hendrix was taken to Fort Meade Military Police Department for an interview.  Hendrix knowingly and voluntarily acknowledged spreading the lighter fluid and lighting the fire.

Hendrix remains in custody pending transport to face two unrelated counts of attempted murder in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, stemming from an alleged shooting which preceded the arson in August of 2020.   That matter is charged by criminal complaint, which 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. 

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the ATF, FBI, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, the Howard County State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Fort Meade Fire Department and the Fort Meade Military Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok who is prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Michael Fisher, a.k.a. Mark Wilson, age 47, of Laurel, Maryland, pleaded guilty on September 24, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Superintendent Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III of the Maryland State Police; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office.

“Our law enforcement team here in Maryland is focused on prosecuting individuals like Michael Fisher who are importing large quantities of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into the state,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan Lenzner.  “The members of this nationwide narcotics conspiracy were responsible for the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of dangerous drugs.  This investigation reflects the positive impact that law enforcement can have on our communities, not only here in Maryland but across the country.”

According to his guilty plea, since November 2019, the Maryland State Police (“MSP”), Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”) were investigating a drug trafficking conspiracy involving Michael Fisher (a.k.a. Mark Wilson) who was distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in the Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan areas.  During the investigation, investigators obtained court-authorized wiretaps of Fisher and Co-Conspirator 1 in which they discussed the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana with each other and with other individuals.  Investigators also conducted surveillance during which they observed drug transactions by both the Defendant and Co-Conspirator 1.

During the conspiracy, Fisher and Co-Conspirator 1 traveled to California multiple times to obtain kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl.  Once in possession of the narcotics, Fisher or Co-Conspirator 1 used the U.S. Mail to ship the narcotics back to Maryland for distribution.  

In May 2020, during drug interdiction activities at a Unite States Postal Service processing and distribution center in Capitol Heights, Maryland, postal inspectors interdicted multiple U.S. Mail parcels, including a parcel bound for a location in Laurel, Maryland that was identified as a location maintained by Fisher.  On May 22, 2020, the Honorable Charles B. Day authorized a search warrant for this parcel, and investigators recovered approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine from the parcel.

Between June 1, 2020 and June 3, 2020, investigators intercepted several telephone calls between Fisher and Co-Conspirator 2.  Based on the content of the intercepted phone calls, investigators believed that Fisher and Co-Conspirator 2 were arranging a drug transaction.  On June 3, 2020, investigators intercepted a call between Fisher and Co-Conspirator 2 during which they agreed to meet in Hanover, Maryland.  During surveillance, investigators observed Co-Conspirator 2 exit his vehicle, walk to Fisher’s vehicle, and retrieved an object from Fisher.  The object was later determined to be a heat-sealed bag containing approximately 501 grams of fentanyl.  Co-Conspirator 2 walked back to his vehicle and placed the object into the vehicle’s trunk. 

Later that day, at the request of investigators, Troopers with MSP conducted a traffic stop of Co-Conspirator 2’s vehicle and located a heat-sealed bag containing a pink powdery substance, later revealed to be fentanyl with a net weight of approximately 501.9 grams.  Fisher admits that he distributed the fentanyl to Co-Conspirator 2 during their earlier meeting that day in Hanover, Maryland.

A few months later, on August 6, 2020, USPIS received an alert that two Priority Mail parcels had been sent from the El Segundo Branch Post Office in El Segundo, CA on the previous day, August 5, 2020.  The parcels were bound for locations in Maryland associated with Fisher and the conspiracy.  These two parcels were seized by investigators in Maryland before they were delivered.  On August 13, 2020, the Honorable Thomas M. DiGirolamo authorized a search and seizure warrant for both of the parcels.  One parcel was found to contain approximately 2,086 grams of cocaine and the second parcel contained approximately 2,110 grams of fentanyl.  Investigators obtained video surveillance from the El Segundo Branch Post Office, which showed Co-Conspirator 1 at the post office at the time the parcels were mailed.

On August 4, 2020, court-authorized cell phone location data showed Co-Conspirator 1’s cell phone in the area of 3828 North Peck Rd, El Monte, California.  On August 13, 2020, investigators located Fisher driving along California Interstate 15 South, in a rented Nissan Sentra.    Investigators followed Fisher to the Northgate Market parking lot located at 3828 North Peck Rd, El Monte, California—the same location where Co-Conspirator 1’s cell phone was located several days earlier.  After circling the parking lot several times, Fisher parked.  Shortly thereafter, investigators observed a white Honda SUV with a female driver and a male passenger park next to Fisher’s vehicle.  Fisher exited his vehicle, removed a box from the trunk of his vehicle, and placed the box inside of the Honda SUV.  Fisher returned to his vehicle and departed, and the two occupants in the Honda departed in a different direction.  Investigators conducted a traffic stop of the Honda shortly thereafter and obtained consent to search the vehicle from the driver and from the passenger, Co-Conspirator 3.  After searching the vehicle, investigators located the box that Fisher had placed in the Honda.  The box contained several packages of bulk currency, totaling approximately $190,020.

Co-Conspirator 3 then gave investigators consent to search his residence.  A search of the residence revealed two duffle bags containing approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine, along with two additional duffle bags that contained narcotics proceeds.  The amount of currency located in the residence totaled approximately $193,980, not including the approximately $190,020 that the Defendant provided to Co-Conspirator 3 earlier that day.

On August 14, 2020, the Honorable Thomas M. DiGirolamo authorized search warrant for the six locations in Maryland.  On August 17, 2020, the Honorable Cam Ferenbach, United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Nevada, authorized a search warrant for a residence in Las Vegas, Nevada.  These search warrants were executed on August 17, 2020.  In addition, on September 1, 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at a house in Hanover, Maryland, which was an additional residence used by Fisher.  During the execution of the search warrants, investigators seized numerous firearms, kilogram quantities of narcotics, and large amount of U.S. Currency.

Investigators also executed search warrants on cellular telephones seized from Fisher and others.   One of Fisher’s cell phones contained photographs of a drug ledger, which was sent to Fisher from a source of supply of narcotics.  The ledger confirms that between November 2019 and May 2020, the conspiracy obtained more than 115 kilograms of cocaine and 2 kilograms of fentanyl from California and mailed it back to Maryland for distribution.  In several instances, the dates and quantities on the ledger correspond to CCTV footage of Fisher in a Los Angeles Post Office mailing packages back to Maryland.  For example, the ledger indicates that Fisher obtained 10 kilograms of cocaine on December 11, 2019, which corresponds to CCTV footage of Fisher on December 11, 2019 in a Los Angeles-area Post Office personally mailing 5 packages to Maryland.  In total, between July 2019 and August 2020, the conspiracy was responsible for mailing approximately 121 parcels from Los Angeles-area Post Offices to locations in Maryland.  The narcotics accounted for in the drug ledger represent only 47 of those parcels.

In total, during this investigation, investigators seized 15 firearms—9 firearms from Fisher and 6 firearms from Co-Conspirator 1—along with approximately 35 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 6.5 kilograms of fentanyl, and approximately 50 kilograms of marijuana.  In addition, investigators seized approximately $1,501,308, which Fisher admits constituted proceeds from the sale of narcotics.

Fisher and the Government have agreed that, if the court accepts the guilty plea, Fisher will be sentenced to between 12 and 15 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has not scheduled a sentencing hearing at this time.

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.

The overdose crisis continues to devastate our states and local communities. If you believe you may need substance use disorder treatment or recovery services, please call 1800-662-HELP (4357). You may also visit the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland for further information and resources on opioid awareness at /media/1138691/dl?inline.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the MSP, USPIS, and DEA for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner also thanked the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles DEA, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anatoly Smolkin, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who are prosecuting the case.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – Willie R. Trimble, age 68, of Statesboro, Georgia, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit mail and bank fraud.    

The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler.

According to his guilty plea, from 2015 to 2016, Trimble conspired with at least two other individuals to steal, alter, and cash checks written by victim businesses and individuals from U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) mail receptacles.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, Trimble cashed a counterfeit check for $6,850 at a victim Baltimore financial institution, allowed a co-conspirator to insert his picture onto a fraudulent Georgia State driver’s license under the fake identity of “David Cleveland”, and burglarized a Mississippi U.S. Post Office in which he stole mail and USPS equipment.

Additionally, in November 2017, Trimble used the Cleveland alias and counterfeit Georgia State driver’s license to withdraw funds from a victim South Carolina bank. He also attempted to cash a stolen and altered business check under the same fraudulent identity. In the same month, surveillance footage captured Trimble attempting to cash a stolen check and disposing of stolen mail behind a convenience store.

As part of the scheme to defraud, Trimble and his co-conspirators recruited dozens of individuals to cash altered or counterfeit checks made out to them in exchange for a portion of the proceeds. At times, Trimble supervised and transported groups of cashers to victim financial institutions where the victim businesses banked. 

During Trimble’s participation in the conspiracy, the mail and bank fraud scheme resulted in the total loss of at least $119,212.50 to victim individuals, approximately 30 business victims, and 15 federally insured financial institutions within Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, and elsewhere.

Trimble faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised released for conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has not scheduled a sentencing hearing at this time.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the USPIS and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam K. Ake and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason X. Hamilton, who are prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Dwayne Douglas, age 39, of Bowie, Maryland, to eight years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for being a member of a conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms of cocaine.

The guilty plea and sentence were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office (DEA); 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); Lieutenant Colonel Kevin M. Anderson, Chief of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police (MDTA Police); Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).

“Our law enforcement team here in Maryland is focusing on individuals and groups who are driving the violence and bringing large quantities of narcotics into our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan Lenzner.  “As a large-scale narcotics dealer who also illegally possessed firearms, Dwayne Douglas endangered communities in our state.  I would like to commend and thank the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies who worked together to hold accountable Douglas and other members of the conspiracy.”

According to his guilty plea, in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy, Douglas met with co-conspirators on several occasions. In one meeting, Douglas transferred drug proceeds directly to an individual who unbeknownst to Douglas was a confidential informant (CI). In order to conduct the transactions, the CI would call a third party to arrange the transfer and a code would be assigned. Thereafter, the CI would meet Douglas and, after Douglas received the code from the CI, Douglas would transfer the drug proceeds to the CI.

Specifically, in October 2016, Douglas delivered approximately $250,000 in narcotics to a CI in a Bowie, Maryland hotel parking lot. In March 2017, Douglas delivered approximately $149,960 to a CI in the parking lot of a College Park, Maryland restaurant.

Additionally, in November 2016, a CI received a notification and the description of a vehicle that would transfer drug proceeds and gave that description to law enforcement. Law enforcement then conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle, in the vicinity of Hyattsville, Maryland. Douglas was the driver of the vehicle. During the car stop, law enforcement observed an open box in the back passenger seat filled of U.S. Currency. Douglas informed law enforcement that there was “a lot” of money in the car. Following a positive canine sniff, law enforcement searched the vehicle and recovered a total of $158,609. 

One day later, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant in which Douglas was the target in Lanham, Maryland. As a result of the search warrant, law enforcement recovered numerous items including a scale with cocaine residue, Douglas' personal items, and a loaded semi-automatic pistol. A federal search and seizure warrant was authorized the next month for Douglas’ DNA. DNA found on the firearm was compared to Douglas’ DNA and the chances of an individual other than Douglas being the DNA contributor was one in 7.24 octillion. The DNA that matched Douglas was found on the grip and trigger of the firearm. 

As stated in his plea agreement, on July 28, 2020, investigators executed federal search and seizure warrant on Douglas’ Silver Spring, Maryland apartment. Investigators recovered a pistol loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, 10 rounds of .45 caliber bullets, two magazines, four separate boxes of ammunition, more than 10 cellular phones, a money counter machine, a food-saver heat sealer machine, packaging materials for controlled substances, latex gloves and three digital scales. Within a safe, DEA agents recovered approximately $25,241.00. DEA agents arrested Douglas, who was inside his apartment.

In his plea agreement, Douglas agrees that it was reasonably foreseeable to him that the conspiracy distributed five kilograms or more of cocaine. Douglas further admits and agrees that he possessed the two above-described firearms even though he was prohibited from doing so due to a prior felony conviction.

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.

The overdose crisis continues to devastate our states and local communities. If you believe you may need substance use disorder treatment or recovery services, please call 1800-662-HELP (4357). You may also visit the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland for further information and resources on opioid awareness at /media/1138691/dl?inline.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA, HSI, the MDTA Police, the BCP, U.S. Postal Inspectors, and the MCPD for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Warwick and Zachary B. Stendig, who prosecuted the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Charles “Chuck” Nabit, age 66, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for transportation of an individual to engage in prostitution.  Judge Russell also ordered Nabit to pay a fine of $55,000 and a special assessment of $5,100.  Nabit, who owns residences and resides in Bethany Beach, Delaware and Deerfield Beach, Florida, is the owner of Westport Group, LLC. and previously owned Mountain Manor Treatment Center, a comprehensive drug treatment center.  As agreed to in the plea agreement, Nabit regularly paid money for commercial sex with women that he knew regularly used narcotics or were severely addicted to narcotics, including one victim who died from a drug overdose, and another victim that Nabit supplied with cocaine.   

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief Lisa Myers of the Howard County Police Department.

“Charles Nabit paid thousands of dollars for commercial sex with victims that he knew were addicted to narcotics, including one woman that he personally supplied with cocaine and another who died from an overdose.  Rather than use his abundant resources to help these victims, Nabit perpetuated their victimization for his own gratification,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lenzner. “One would hope that a businessman with means who previously owned a drug treatment center would help these victims rather than further their drug addiction and reliance on commercial sex.  Charles Nabit not only violated federal law, he also used his wealth and stature to gratify himself while perpetuating the victimization of these women.”

“The sentencing today serves as a bittersweet moment for the victims of Charles Nabit’s reprehensible actions,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso.  “HSI is proud to have partnered with the Howard County Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s office to hold Mr. Nabit accountable for his crimes.”

According to his guilty plea, beginning in 2017 until his arrest on June 10, 2020, Nabit regularly paid for commercial sex, including in at least 52 payments via Cash App to an adult man who has been charged with sex trafficking.  The seven women whom Nabit admitted he paid for commercial sex (Victims 1 through 7) either regularly used narcotics or suffered from serious substance abuse disorders during the time periods in which Nabit engaged in commercial sex with them. 

Nabit admitted that from August 2018 to May 2020, he paid at least $90,000, as well as an additional unknown amount of cash, to women with whom he had commercial sex.  This includes 52 Cash App transactions to an individual who he knew to be someone other than the victim he was seeing for commercial sex.  For example, on April 11, 2019, Nabit received a message from the Cash App account registered to De’Angelo Johnson requesting $140 for “coming thru on a good girl and a hot girl.”  The victim, Victim 1, had requested that Nabit pay her directly, sending a message to Nabit’s CashApp account, but Nabit refused to pay her and sent $145 payment to the Cash App account registered to Johnson with a message indicating the payment was “for (the first name of Victim 1).”  De’Angelo Johnson has been charged in federal court with sex trafficking in a separate indictment and is scheduled for trial beginning in March 2022.          

As detailed in his plea agreement, Nabit regularly transported victims to and from his Baltimore office for commercial sex, either in his vehicle or by using a rideshare car service.  In separate encounters with Victim 1, Victim 3, and Victim 5, Nabit also recorded their sex acts with a Go Pro camera despite their objections to being filmed.  Nabit was aware of Victim 5’s substance abuse as she discussed her struggles with addiction and depression.  Nabit knew that, more than likely, some of the money provided to Victim 5 was being used to fund her drug use.

According to the plea agreement, beginning no later than February 2019, Nabit began seeing Victim 6 for commercial sex and travel dates.  She discussed her addiction struggles with Nabit on several occasions. During their sexual encounters, Nabit provided Victim 6 with monetary payment and cocaine.  For example, Nabit paid $5,000 to Victim 6 for her to accompany him to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and engage in commercial sex.  During that trip, Nabit also provided Victim 6 with cocaine.  Nabit also traveled with Victim 6 to a hotel in Richmond, Virginia on at least three separate occasions to engage in commercial sex.  Victim 6 was paid at least $1,000 in cash for one of these trips.  Hotel records revealed multiple overnight stays by Nabit between August 2019 and March 2020.

Until her death in May 2019, Nabit admitted that he also regularly engaged in commercial sex with Victim 7.  Victim 7 repeatedly discussed her drug addiction in text messages with Nabit and expressed to Nabit her desire to obtain treatment for her substance abuse.  Specifically, on August 13, 2018, Victim 7 told Nabit she completed an application for Mountain Manor Treatment Center and Nabit replied, “As you recall, I used to own MM and my ex-partner still does.”  Nabit and Victim 7’s mother spoke on several occasions about Victim 7’s drug use.  For example, on August 18, 2018, Nabit texted Victim 7’s mother about Victim 7 going to drug rehabilitation.  Nabit stated that Victim 7 began using opiates again but that “she seemed to handle crack ok for weeks.”   On May 23, 2019, Victim 7’s mother informed Nabit that Victim 7 had overdosed on drugs and died.

On December 9, 2019, Nabit and his attorney met with investigators for an interview in relation to a sex trafficking investigation involving alleged sex trafficker De’Angelo Johnson and Victims, 1, 2, 3, and 4.  During this interview Nabit was asked whether he was aware that the sex trafficking victims were drug users.  He was shown pictures of four victims and claimed to have only been aware of one victim’s drug use.  He also claimed he had never seen signs of drug use in the remaining victims, as he had owned a drug treatment facility for 10 years and he would have recognized signs of drug use.

Nabit was arrested on June 10, 2020, and law enforcement executed federal search warrants for his person, his electronics, his Baltimore office, and his vehicle.  Law enforcement recovered numerous sex toys and filming equipment, including five Go Pro cameras, from Nabit’s office.  Nabit’s office also had a large sectional sofa that converted to a bed which had a sheet on it.  A forensic analysis of Nabit’s cell phone and Go Pro cameras recovered numerous messages related to commercial sex as well as images and videos of victims engaging in commercial sex with Nabit.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended HSI and the Howard County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary W. Setzer and P. Michael Cunningham, 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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Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Rudolph Elwood Brooks, Jr., age 45, of Bowie, Maryland, with federal wire fraud and money laundering charges.

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Shimon R. Richmond of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG); Acting Special Agent in Charge Darrell Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG).

The nine-count indictment charges Brooks with three counts of wire fraud relating to Brooks’ transmission of loan applications submitted through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) in the names of three entities controlled by Brooks:  Cars Direct by Gavawn HWD Bob’s Motors (“Cars Direct”), Madaro, LLC (“Madaro”), and Kingdom Tabernacle of Restoration of Ministries (“Kingdom Tabernacle”).  As alleged in the indictment, Brooks electronically submitted PPP loan applications in the name of Cars Direct, Madaro and Kingdom Tabernacle containing false statements regarding the number of employees and payroll expenses of the entities.  In support of the PPP loan applications, Brooks also submitted false tax forms not on file with the Internal Revenue Service.

On May 9, 2020, the Cars Direct PPP loan was approved and on May 12, 2020 $1,556,589 in loan proceeds were deposited into an account controlled by Brooks.  On May 11, 2020, the Madaro PPP loan was approved and on May 13, 2020 $204,266 in loan proceeds were deposited into an account controlled by Brooks.  On May 14, 2020, the Kingdom Tabernacle PPP loan was approved and on May 15, 2020 $1.8 million in loan proceeds were deposited into an account controlled by Brooks. 

In total, on the basis of the false and fraudulent PPP loan applications, Brooks obtained at least $3,560,855 in PPP loan proceeds.  Brooks used the PPP loan proceeds for his personal benefit and on payments and purchases not permissible under the Paycheck Protection Program, including payments for a residence, the purchase of a luxury vehicle, purchases at restaurants, retail stores, grocery stores, cash withdrawals and transfer to other bank accounts controlled by Brooks.

The indictment also charges Brooks with three counts of money laundering for wire transfers derived from the criminal proceeds of the PPP loans that were used for the purchase of a 2018 Tesla Model 3, a real property in Baltimore, Maryland, and a real property in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.  The indictment also charges Brooks with three counts of money laundering for the April 5, 2021 purchase of three $100,000 cashier’s check payable to “Rudolph Brooks” from the proceeds of the fraudulent PPP loans.

To date, the United States has recovered more than $1.6 million in proceeds of the fraudulent PPP loans as well as a 2018 Tesla Model 3 purchased with proceeds of the Cars Direct PPP loan.  As alleged in the indictment, if convicted, the United States will seek forfeiture of the seized property as well as the Upper Marlboro, Maryland property purchased with fraud proceeds.  The United States also filed a parallel civil forfeiture complaint against the Upper Marlboro, Maryland property on August 12, 2021 alleging that the property was purchased with more than $500,000 in proceeds traceable to the Kingdom Tabernacle and Cars Direct PPP loans.

As detailed in the indictment, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering from the economic consequences of COVID-19.  The CARES Act authorized up to $659 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for employee retention and certain business expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).  The business must use PPP loan proceeds on payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent, and utilities.  Initially, the program allowed the principal to be forgiven if the business spent the loan proceeds on qualifying expenses within eight weeks of loan issuance and used at least 75 percent of the loan for payroll.  On June 5, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 went into effect.  This law extended the period from eight weeks to 24 weeks that the loan proceeds had to be spent and reduced the requirement that the loan proceeds be spent on payroll from 75 percent to 60 percent.

If convicted, Brooks faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering followed by three years of supervised release.  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. 

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FDIC OIG, the IRS-CI, the FBI, and the SBA OIG for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean R. Delaney, Jessica C. Collins, and Jennifer L. Wine, 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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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Jeffrey Bearden, age 47, of Hagerstown, Maryland, with false statements and bank fraud. The criminal complaint alleges that in May 2020, Bearden applied for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The complaint was signed on September 22, 2021 and unsealed upon Bearden’s arrest on September 23, 2020. 

The federal charge was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG).

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on May 1, 2020 Bearden electronically signed falsified documents attesting to inaccurate statements in order for his company, B&D Consulting, to receive $734,609.00 through the PPP for use in paying business costs consisting primarily of employee salaries. At that time, the company had no employees, nor reported paying any earnings and wages for any employee to the Maryland Department of Labor and Licensing (DLLR) in 2020.

As detailed in the affidavit, on May 18, 2020, the funds were approved and deposited into Bearden’s bank account. That same day, the $734.609 was transferred to a different bank account. The next month, $600,000 was transferred to Bearden’s brokerage account that was used to purchase stocks in a variety of publicly-traded companies, including one that produced a vaccine for COVID-19. The purchase of stocks is not an approved use of PPP loan funds by the Small Business Administration. 

In February 2021, Bearden applied for a second PPP loan of a similar amount, attaching a fraudulent bank statement for a B&D Consulting account for the month of March 2020 showing the company was paying salaries to at least 19 individuals. Records show that no deposits or withdraws had been made from that account in March 2020 and the account balance was in the negative.

If convicted, Bearden faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of these charges.  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.  At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner ordered that Bearden be released pending his trial.

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.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI and SBA OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, who is prosecuting the federal 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 www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Martrel Rayshard Reeves, age 31, of Washington, D.C. to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. 

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones 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.

“The gun violence in Prince George’s County is simply unacceptable, and the proliferation of ghost guns in the region is part of the problem,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner.  “Working in collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we are committed to taking ghost guns off the streets and prosecuting those who illegally possess and sell them in order to make our community safer.  Firearms trafficking and illegal firearms are a priority of the Department of Justice, and we hope this federal sentence will deter others from illegally possessing ghost guns.”

According to his plea agreement, on July 8, 2018, law enforcement executed a traffic stop on Reeves’ vehicle for traffic violations.  The car was occupied by Reeves and a female passenger.  At the time of the traffic stop, Reeves did not possess a driver’s license or other identification. A subsequent check of his driving record revealed that his license had been suspended. When officers asked Reeves to step out of the car, officers smelled alcohol on Reeves’ breath and the odor of marijuana on his person.  During the search of his vehicle, law enforcement recovered a .40-caliber pistol, loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition. Reeves admitted at the scene that the firearm belonged to him, following which, he was arrested.

As detailed in Reeves’ plea agreement, the pistol was test-fired and found to function as a firearm. The gun recovered in Reeves’ car is what is known as a “ghost gun”—in that it was made from a firearm parts kit. These kits can be purchased from various kit manufacturers or secondary retailers, including Internet websites. Ghost guns frequently lack serial numbers, which generally make the firearms legally unregistrable and difficult to track.

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.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the ATF and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajeev R. Raghavan and Erin B. Pulice, who prosecuted the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Allen Lamin, a/k/a “Allen Simon”, age 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for bank fraud.      

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.

Lamin pled guilty to the indictment, which charged him with five counts of depositing fraudulently altered postal money orders at financial institutions.  As proven by the Government at sentencing, between February 2019 and April 2020, Lamin stole blank postal money orders from at least five different Maryland United States Post Offices and one Georgia United States Post Office on at least seven occasions. After each theft, Lamin used printers to alter the money orders to reflect high-dollar amounts, most frequently in the amounts of $800 and $1,000. Then, Lamin deposited the fraudulent money orders into accounts that he controlled at financial institutions. These bank accounts were in the names of real persons or fictitious entities.

As part of his scheme to defraud, Lamin commonly entered post office locations posing as a customer in need of general mail services. For example, on December 3, 2019, Lamin entered the post office and asked for a forwarding card. Lamin then returned to the counter, said that he would not be submitting the forwarding card, and asked to purchase a $20 money order with cash. After purchasing the postal money, Lamin asked the employee if there were any moving boxes in the back. Once the employee left, Lamin stole blank postal money orders from behind the counter. The witness employee noticed the theft an hour later when a customer came in and requested to purchase a postal money order. Lamin was caught on surveillance camera employing the same scheme on two separate occasions at another post office in Maryland.

Law enforcement executed search warrants at two of Lamin’s residences located in Baltimore City and Gwynn Oak, Maryland.  Following execution of these two search warrants, Lamin fled Maryland and was subsequently arrested in Dallas, Texas, on May 20, 2020.  During searches of Lamin’s two Maryland residences and his Dallas residence, agents recovered several pieces of evidence, including stolen postal money orders with misprinted fraudulent information, blank stolen money orders, and receipts for the deposit of blank stolen money orders, that tied Lamin to other postal money order thefts at post offices in Maryland and Georgia.  At the residences, agents also recovered bank statements, fraudulent drivers’ licenses displaying Lamin’s photograph and the personal identifying information of victims, and credit and debit cards in the names of victims.

During the course of the conspiracy, Lamin and his coconspirators negotiated $392,500.72 in stolen money orders.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the USPIS for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajeev R. Raghavan, who prosecuted the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Mark Williams, a/k/a Swanny, age 52, of Elkton, Maryland, to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Superintendent Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III of the Maryland State Police; and Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams.

According to his guilty plea, the Maryland State Police, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security identified Williams, Troy Neal, and Kevin Johnson as suppliers of cocaine after an extended investigation dating back to 2019.  The conspiracy members distributed crack cocaine to multiple customers in Elkton, Maryland.

During the investigation, the Cecil County Circuit Court issued an order to authorize the interception of wire and electronic communications of Williams and his co-conspirators.  Intercepted text and telephone communications revealed Williams as a member of the drug distribution conspiracy.

Law enforcement intercepted at least eight instances in which Williams, or his co-conspirators, conversed in coded conversations about drug activity. For example, on May 27, 2020, after a series of calls between Neal and a customer, police observed Williams and Neal visit a customer’s residence. Shortly after their arrival, two male customers entered the residence.  After one of the two male customers left the residence, police conducted a traffic stop and seized 3.6 grams of crack cocaine.

As stated in his plea agreement, after a series of coded calls between Williams and the conspiracy members, law enforcement covertly surveilled Neal, Johnson, and Williams depart Neal’s residence and travel to the Bronx in New York.  The next day, on June 14, 2020, law enforcement observed the three men travel back to a Maryland residence.  Law enforcement executed a search warrant at a co-conspirator’s residence and recovered 497 grams of compressed suspected cocaine, several bags of suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and several cell phones.

Police arrested Williams, Neal and Johnson. Each were charged in Cecil County with various drug-related crimes.

Other evidence corroborates Williams’s involvement in drug trafficking including a lack of legitimate employment to support his life expenses.  According to the IRS, Williams had reportable wages of approximately $6,000 in 2019 and less than $5,000 in 2020. Additionally, two witnesses would advise that they regularly purchased crack cocaine from Williams and Neal from February 2020 to May 2020.           

Co-defendant Kevin Johnson was sentenced to eight years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine on August 23, 2021. Co-defendant Troy Neal pleaded guilty to the same charges on July 16, 2021. Neal’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 26, 2021 at 11 a.m.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI, the Maryland State Police Department, and the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Kim Y. Oldham, who are prosecuting the case.

Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network funding provided through Governor Larry Hogan's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, played a key role in this operation. 

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Ronald Alexander, age 50, of Baltimore, Maryland to 135 months in federal prison, followed by eight years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and powder and crack cocaine.  While he was participating in the narcotics conspiracy, Alexander was employed by “Safe Streets,” an organization whose purpose is to reduce violence and crime in Baltimore through intervention.  While he was engaged in the distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics, Alexander used his affiliation with Safe Streets to evade law enforcement in Baltimore, including on one occasion to avoid arrest when police seized from him a large quantity of fentanyl. 

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to Alexander’s plea agreement, law enforcement obtained judicial authorization to intercept communications to and from cellular telephones used by Alexander from May through July 23, 2020.  Alexander’s conversations revealed that he operated a “drug shop” in the vicinity of Spaulding Avenue and Palmer Avenue in Northwest Baltimore.  Alexander and co-defendant Thomas Corey Crosby corresponded every week or two concerning the sale of narcotics, including heroin and fentanyl.  After these conversations, which were often very brief, the pair would meet.  Most meetings took place at a gas station located at the intersection of Druid Park Avenue and Liberty Heights in Baltimore, where Crosby supplied drugs to Alexander.  Investigators conducted surveillance of many of these meetings and obtained surveillance video from the gas station.  

“Ronald Alexander not only polluted the Baltimore community with dangerous drugs and illegally possessed a firearm, but he also risked undermining Safe Streets and other community outreach efforts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner.  “Our violence reduction strategy is based on strong enforcement efforts focused on those driving the violence and distributing large quantities of narcotics while also providing robust community outreach and prevention initiatives.  Hopefully this sentence will encourage others to put down the gun and give up the drug trade and choose to invest in themselves and their community instead.”

“The investigation and subsequent sentencing of Ronald Alexander shows that narcotics trafficking and violence has immersed itself in every aspect of our lives, even in areas that are supposed to help stem the tide of drug related violence in the city,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene.  “DEA will, with the help and assistance of our federal and local partners, continue to lead the effort of bringing these violators to justice.”

As detailed in his plea agreement, on August 5, 2020, a Baltimore Police officer conducted a traffic stop of Alexander after Alexander rolled through a stop sign.  During the encounter, Alexander used his affiliation with Safe Streets and the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office to try to deter further police investigation. Alexander called an associate afterwards, and said, “Yeah. Police hopped on me. Told me to get off the phone. You know they scared, you know they scared of the Mayor Office, I said man I work for Safe Streets from the Mayor Office. I was just coming from one of my participant house, in need with this, it was in need of food due to the pandemic. He say oh, ok ok.”

On August 9, 2020, Alexander received a call from Crosby arranging to meet at the gas station.  At the gas station, Crosby was seen entering Alexander’s vehicle and the two had a brief conversation.  Crosby then placed an item in the center console area of Alexander’s vehicle and then got out of the car.  Alexander pulled away from the gas station and investigators performed a traffic stop and searched Alexander’s vehicle, recovering what was later determined to be 100 grams of fentanyl from a bag found in the center console.  Alexander again informed law enforcement that he worked for Safe Streets and provided law enforcement with a letter from the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office.  When asked about the bag in the center console, Alexander stated that he had taken the drugs from a member of the community as part of his work with the Safe Streets program in an attempt to prevent crime.  According to court documents, law enforcement seized the drugs, but permitted Alexander to leave without being arrested.  After the traffic stop, Alexander called Crosby and they met again at the same gas station.  After the meeting, Crosby disposed of his cell phone, which investigators had obtained authorization to intercept and track.

On August 14, 2020, search warrants were executed at locations related to the investigation, including Alexander’s residence in the 1200 block of North Augusta Avenue and a second residence where Alexander sometimes stayed in the unit block of North Culver Street, both in Baltimore.  Alexander was located at his residence.  There, law enforcement seized a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and six cartridges of ammunition, a digital scale and drug packaging material, suspected cutting agents, and Safe Streets apparel.  At the residence on North Culver Street, investigators located 80 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, more than 100 grams of powdered caffeine, and a digital scale.

Alexander was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition as the result of a 2001 conviction in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.  Alexander was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in that case and was released from the Bureau of Prisons in approximately May 2018.

Thomas Corey Crosby, age 51, of Woodlawn, Maryland, previously pleaded and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.  Judge Russell also ordered Crosby to forfeit $134,499 in cash, seized during a search of his residence on August 14, 2020.

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.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA and BPD for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta who prosecuted the federal case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Clifton Mosley, age 43, of Baltimore, Maryland to four life terms in federal prison for two counts of conspiracy to murder a witness and one count each of witness retaliation murder and witness tampering murder, related to the murder of Latrina Ashburne, age 41, on May 27, 2016.  Mosley was also convicted of a federal marijuana distribution charge for which he was sentenced to a concurrent five-year sentence.

A federal jury in Baltimore convicted Mosley and co-defendant, Davon Carter, age 41, also of Baltimore, on January 29, 2020, after a three-week trial.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

“Clifton Mosley and Davon Carter not only attempted to disrupt our justice system, they also took the life of an innocent woman from Baltimore. The loss of Latrina Ashburne is a tragedy and a deep loss to her family and to the community, and those responsible will now spend the remainder of their lives in federal prison,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “As demonstrated by this case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement team will never cease to aggressively pursue and hold accountable those who attempt to harm or intimidate witnesses.”

According to the evidence presented at their three-week trial, Carter and Mosley conspired to kill a witness who had provided information to law enforcement about a good friend of Carter’s, Matthew Hightower. In June 2015, Hightower was charged federally in a health care fraud scheme.  While on release in the health care fraud case, the federal grand jury began investigating crimes of violence for which Hightower was implicated, including the murder of David Wutoh. In July or August 2015, Hightower learned the identity of the health care fraud whistleblower (the witness) who also had incriminating information against him relating to the Wutoh murder. Contrary to his release conditions, he began communicating with witnesses who had been in the grand jury.  All the while, Carter and Mosley remained in frequent and regular contact with Hightower.

On April 19, 2016, the grand jury returned a sealed superseding indictment against Hightower charging both Hightower and Harry Crawford with extortion and using interstate facilities for extortion resulting in the death (murder) of David Wutoh. Ten days later, the government filed a motion requesting revocation of Hightower’s release conditions based on the new charges and his prohibited contact with grand jury witnesses. The motion was granted on May 4, 2016 and Hightower was detained. Hightower was ultimately convicted of extortion resulting in Wutoh’s murder by a federal jury on September 22, 2016, after a seven-day trial and was sentenced to 380 months in federal prison. 

The evidence at trial proved that on May 27, 2016, Ms. Ashburne was murdered in the early morning as she got into her car outside the home she shared with her mother in the 2900 block of Rosalind Avenue in Baltimore’s Cylburn neighborhood. A neighbor reported that an unknown male approached and shot Ms. Ashburne in the upper body as she tried to run. She was not robbed. At the time, the police also released a video they said showed the suspect running away from the scene.     

The witness targeted by Hightower lived next door to Ms. Ashburne, the murder victim. The witness contacted law enforcement to report the murder and that she believed she was the intended target. The investigation showed that Mosley’s phone was in the area at the time of the murder and in contact with Carter’s phone. In addition, vehicles owned by the mother of Carter’s girlfriend and by Hightower were captured on surveillance video driving slowly through the area as if the driver were looking for someone. The evidence at trial established that Carter and Mosley each drove one of the vehicles and that the two men were in contact with one another both the night before the murder and in the early morning hours before the shooting.  The evidence at trial also showed that Mosley searched a public court database on May 26 in a possible effort to confirm a court appearance for the witness on May 27, therefore, giving an approximate time when the witness would leave her home the morning of the shooting. Ms. Ashburne left her home at or about the same anticipated time, resulting in her mistaken execution.

Davon Carter was previously sentenced to four life terms in federal prison for two counts of conspiracy to murder a witness and one count each of witness retaliation murder and witness tampering murder on May 20, 2021. 

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HHS-OIG, the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore Police Department, and the ATF for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Kim Oldham, who are prosecuting the case and also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Judson T. Mihok and Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, who prosecuted the Hightower case, for their assistance.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Nakir Ali Kiett, age 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to six years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute approximately 211 grams of methamphetamine in Cecil County, Maryland. 

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and the members of Cecil County Drug Task Force, including Chief Carolyn Rogers of the Elkton Police Department, Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams, Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, and Cecil County State’s Attorney James Dellmyer.

According to his plea agreement, in the fall of 2019, Cecil County Drug Task Force officers received information that an individual known as “Omar” was selling methamphetamine in Cecil County, Maryland. “Omar” was later identified as Kiett.

In August 2019, a confidential informant introduced an undercover officer to Kiett.  Between August 28 and September 30, 2019, the undercover officer then arranged and conducted five separate controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Kiett, totaling approximately 150 grams of methamphetamine.

As stated in the plea agreement, on October 9, 2019, investigators obtained a search warrant for Kiett’s vehicle. On October 10, 2019 investigators arranged for a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Kiett. When Kiett arrived at the agreed-upon meeting location, investigators detained him and searched Kiett and his vehicle pursuant to the search warrant.  During the search of the vehicle, investigators recovered approximately 61 grams of methamphetamine located in a space behind the vehicle’s radio.  

In total, investigators purchased or seized approximately 211 grams of methamphetamine from Kiett between August 2019 and October 2019.  Kiett agrees and admits that he knowingly and intentionally possessed the above-referenced methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the Department of Homeland Security and the Cecil County Drug Task Force (CCDTF), comprised of the Elkton Police Department, the Cecil County Sheriff's Office, the Maryland State Police, the Cecil County State's Attorney's Office, for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Anatoly Smolkin who prosecuted the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging three Maryland men on federal charges related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $2.7 million in unemployment benefits.  The indictment was returned on August 30, 2021, and unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants.  Charged in the indictment are:

Gladstone Njokem, age 34, of Hyattsville, Maryland; Martin Tabe, age 32, of Bowie, Maryland; and
Sylvester Atekwane, age 31, of Hyattsville. 

The defendants will have initial appearances today beginning at 1:30 p.m., in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner.

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Derek Pickle, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General; and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.

As detailed in the indictment, in Maryland, Michigan, and Tennessee, individuals who have lost a job can contact the appropriate state agency to submit a claim for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.  Claims for UI benefits in all three states are typically submitted electronically through the use of the Internet or Internet-capable devices.  If the former employee meets certain requirements, they become eligible to receive UI benefits. Prior to April 2021, an approved claimant for UI benefits in Maryland received a Prepaid VISA debit card with the claimant’s name on it through the mail.  Claimants in Michigan and Tennessee also had the option of having UI benefits deposited to a prepaid debit card.  In each state, the appropriate state agency would authorize the electronic application of UI benefits to the debit card and continue to do so on a periodic basis if the claimant continued to qualify for benefits. 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. It expanded states’ ability to provide UI for many workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment benefits.  The CARES Act created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) program, under which states are permitted to provide PUA to individuals who are self-employed, seeking part-time employment, or otherwise would not qualify for regular UI compensation.  The CARES Act also established the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (“PEUC”) program, which covers most individuals who have exhausted all rights to regular UI compensation under state or federal law and who are able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work as defined by state law.  Finally, the CARES Act also established the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) program. From April 4, 2020 through July 31, 2020, FPUC allowed states to give an additional $600 per week to individuals collecting UI compensation.  From January 2021 through September 6, 2021, FPUC allowed states to provide an additional $300 per week to individuals collecting UI compensation,.

According to the 13-count indictment, from February 2020 through February 2021, Njokem, Tabe, Atekwane and others conspired to impersonate victims in order to submit fraudulent UI claims.  To accomplish this, the defendants obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of victims, often under false pretenses.  For example, Njokem obtained PII from at least one victim by falsely claiming to sell puppies. The defendants allegedly shared the PII amongst themselves and with others and used the victims’ PII to submit fraudulent applications for UI benefits in Maryland, Michigan, and Tennessee. 

The indictment alleges that the fraudulent applications contained false representations concerning the victims’ contact information, address, work availability, and that they were newly unemployed.  The defendants allegedly used false physical addresses for UI applications, such that any UI benefits that were paid by the state would be received by the defendants, rather than the victims. In some instances, the defendants used their own physical addresses in UI applications to receive the victims’ UI benefits. In other instances, the defendants used the addresses of nearby vacant residences to receive UI applications in an effort to avoid detection by government authorities.

As detailed in the indictment, once the defendants received the fraudulently obtained debit cards, they made cash withdrawals and other transactions throughout Maryland and used the cash for their own benefit and for the benefit of others who also were not entitled to the money.

The indictment alleges that as a result of the conspiracy, Njokem, Tabe, Atekwane, and others caused at least 600 fraudulent UI claims to be submitted in Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, and at least sixteen other states, resulting more than 2.7 million dollars in actual losses.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and for each of the nine counts of wire fraud.  The defendants each also face a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft.  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. 

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the USPIS, the DOL-OIG, HSI, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury – OIG for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Maryland Department of Labor for their assistance. Mr. Lenzner also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary H. Ray, Sean R. Delaney, and Matthew Maddox, who are prosecuting the federal 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 www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – James Ian Piccirilli, age 40, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to failing to surrender for service of sentence. Piccirilli also admitted to illegally possessing additional firearms while on the run.

The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Tim Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and U.S. Marshal Johnny Hughes.

According to his guilty plea, on January 14, 2020, U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanie Thacker sentenced Piccirilli to 30 months’ imprisonment for possessing an unregistered fully automatic firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act (“NFA”). 

The National Firearms Act regulates certain firearms, known as “NFA firearms,” such as short-barreled rifles; fully automatic firearms; firearms that can be readily made fully automatic; parts that can make a firearm fully automatic; and silencers.  Individuals may not possess an NFA firearm that is not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR), nor can a person sell or transfer an NFA firearm without the prior approval of the ATF.

According to his November 2019 guilty plea, on October 5, 2018, Piccirilli took an MKE 5.56mm caliber firearm, which had been altered to convert it into a fully automatic short-barreled rifle, bringing the firearm under the regulation of the NFA, to the home of another individual, who was a licensed gun dealer in Maryland.  Piccirilli, formerly a police officer in Brunswick, Maryland, legally owned non-NFA firearms and had the skill and expertise to convert non-NFA firearms into NFA firearms. 

Piccirilli admitted that the firearm belonged to him, but it was not registered to him, in violation of the NFA. According to information presented to the Court, Piccirilli tried to launder the unregistered firearm by attempting to have the gun dealer register the illegal firearm and/or sell it, so that the sale of the gun would appear to be legal. In December 2018, Piccirilli attempted to sell the firearm to an ATF undercover agent without ATF’s prior approval and in text messages and recorded calls tried to conceal the nature of the transaction.  On December 14, 2018, as Piccirilli left his house to complete the transaction, he was apprehended by ATF agents.  Investigators executed search warrants on his house and two vehicles, seizing 10 unregistered fully automatic firearms, one unregistered short-barreled rifle, and seven unregistered silencers.

The District Court ordered Piccirilli to surrender by 2:00 p.m. on March 16, 2020, to begin serving his sentence.  The Court communicated the order to Piccirilli orally during the sentencing hearing and in writing in his judgment. Piccirilli’s girlfriend, Kellie Nicole Warfield, age 30, of Mt. Airy, Maryland was present at the January sentencing hearing.

As stated in his September 2021 plea agreement, on January 24, 2020, Piccirilli’s probation officer received an alert that Piccirilli had disabled his ankle monitor and had failed to return home by his curfew. Soon after, law enforcement discovered that Piccirilli and Warfield disposed of their cell phones and sold their vehicle.

As a part of their investigation, ATF investigators and U.S. Marshals interviewed family members, friends, and associates of the couple. As a result of gathered intelligence, investigators discovered that the couple relocated to Ramsey, Indiana.

Further investigation revealed Warfield received Kansas temporary tags for a truck that she and Piccirilli purchased while evading law enforcement. Subsequently, in September 2020, Warfield used her real personal information to apply for an Indiana driver’s license and registration for the truck.

As stated in his plea agreement, on October 13, 2020, investigators arrested Piccirilli and Warfield at a New Salisbury, Indiana restaurant where Warfield worked.  At the time, the couple was living in a camper attached to a truck. 

As a result of search warrants executed on the truck and camper, law enforcement recovered a 9 mm caliber pistol bearing no serial number, loaded with a full magazine of ammunition, two fully loaded magazines, a A-15 .223/5.56mm caliber rifle, and additional rounds of ammunition.  The rifle had a selector switch, converted it into a fully automatic rifle, bringing the firearm under the regulation of the NFA.

 In addition, a witness informed investigators that Piccirilli identified himself under the alias of “Jack Davis” and, at one point, asked her to hold a 9 mm caliber pistol and silencer. The witness possessed a bag containing the firearm and silencer belonging to Piccirilli. The silencer lacked a serial number, as required by the NFA.  Piccirilli had no NFA firearms registered to him in the NFRTR.

Piccirilli agrees that he was on release for another criminal charge and that he was required by court order to surrender for service of sentence by March 16, 2020.  Despite being aware of that requirement, he knowingly and willfully failed to surrender.  In addition, he agrees that he knowingly possessed NFA firearms that were not registered to him in the NFRTR.  He knew that those objects were NFA firearms.

Piccirilli and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Piccirilli will be sentenced to between 30 to 46 months in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for November 19, 2021 at 10 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 Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.  Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.  For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.        

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the Baltimore and Louisville ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, the Southeast Indiana Regional SWAT Team, and the Indiana State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon K. Moore and Patricia McLane, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Brian McQuade, age 70, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, for the federal charges of wire fraud related to a scheme to steal $750,000 from a non-profit organization providing services to military veterans.  The indictment was returned on September 2, 2021 and unsealed today upon McQuade’s arrest.  McQuade had an initial appearance scheduled today at 1:30 p.m., in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day.

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to the two-count indictment, from June 2018 until August 2021, McQuade perpetrated a fraud scheme to obtain money from a non-profit organization that provided services to combat and military veterans (the “Foundation”).  During that time, McQuade allegedly held himself out as an investment advisor to clients, including the Foundation, falsely telling clients that he would manage investment accounts on their behalf.   Instead, McQuade allegedly misappropriated the funds provided by clients, including the Foundation, for his personal use.

The indictment alleges that McQuade represented to the Foundation and its principals that he was worked as an investment advisor through an entity called Columbia Financial Advisors, LLP (“Columbia Financial”), which McQuade represented was the investment advisory arm affiliated with an established DC accounting firm.  In reality, the Indictment alleges, McQuade had not been formally affiliated with the accounting firm since at least 2015.  McQuade also represented to the Foundation that he was a licensed, registered investment advisor, including on an “Investment Advisory Agreement” he provided to the Foundation before the Foundation made its investment.  McQuade allegedly told the Foundation that he would place the Foundation’s funds in a brokerage account that he would manage on behalf of the Foundation and McQuade provided the Foundation with a completed brokerage account application. 

Based on McQuade’s representations, the Foundation wired McQuade $750,000 to invest on the Foundation’s behalf.   According to the indictment, McQuade never opened a brokerage account on behalf of the Foundation and, instead, McQuade misappropriated the Foundation’s funds for his personal benefit, including transferring the funds to personal accounts and spending the money on restaurants, country club dues, luxury car payments, mortgages, and other personal items.  To conceal his misappropriation of the Foundation’s funds, McQuade allegedly continued to make misrepresentations to the Foundation about their investment—even providing a fabricated account statement, to create the false appearance that the Foundation’s funds were held in an investment account for the benefit of the Foundation.  To date, despite repeated requests, the Foundation has been unable to recover any of its funds. 

If convicted, McQuade faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of two counts of wire fraud.  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. 

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin R. Cottingham and Jessica C. Collins, who are prosecuting the federal case.

The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI are continuing to investigate this matter.  If you believe that you may have been a victim of or have information about McQuade or any other investment fraud scheme, please contact the FBI, Baltimore Field Office at 1-800-CALL-FBI. 

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.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Jeffrey Cummings, age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland to 30 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for a federal charge for enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity during a period of time when Cummings was required to register as a sex offender.  Judge Blake also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Cummings 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).  Cummings has been detained since his arrest on July 19, 2019.

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.

According to his plea agreement, from March 2017 to July 2019, Cummings attempted to coerce dozens of minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct on a popular social media platform. Using a smartphone and computers, Cummings communicated with at least six minor victims.   During that time, Cummings was required to register as a sex offender, as the result of a 2008 conviction in Anne Arundel County, Maryland for sexual contact with a 10-year-old boy.

"Cummings was a repeat sex offender who preyed on children, deceiving them to send him illegal images, and threatening to kill them if they refused to comply”, said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “We hope this sentence will deter others like Cummings from victimizing children, and we hope this case will remind parents that there are predators, like this defendant, lurking on the internet. Every parent should familiarize themselves with the social media platforms their children may use and their online contacts. Educate your child on the dangers of communicating with persons online, even those that may seem non-threatening, and how to report suspicious persons to an adult."

“Online safety for today’s children is constantly changing as advancing technology poses new risks”, said Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame, Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  “Postal Inspectors continue their long tradition of working with our law enforcement partners to investigate those predators who seek to sexually exploit children.”

The investigation into Cummings’ illegal conduct began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip from a guardian of two minor boys. The guardian alerted authorities to a suspicious individual who had contacted her minor nephews on the internet and asked the minor boys to send dirty socks in the mail.

According to his plea agreement, from March 2017 through July 2019, Cummings operated multiple social media accounts using a variety of aliases, including elaborate, false female personas, to communicate with minor boys under the false pretense that he was a minor girl.  Using his accounts, Cummings coerced and enticed at least six minor male victims, ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old, to send Cummings pictures and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Cummings also admitted that he further distributed some of the sexually explicit photos received from the victims.

As detailed in the plea agreement, during his conversations with the victims, Cummings, posing as a teenage girl, requested the victims to send “her” a sexually explicit photograph or video.  Thinking that they were communicating with a teenage girl, and often after Cummings sent the victims pictures of a teenage girl purported to be pictures of “herself,” including nude images of a pubescent female’s genital area, at least five of the minor victims sent Cummings sexually explicit images of themselves. 

Throughout his conversations with several of the victims, Cummings requested that the victims send him their previously worn socks by mail.  Cummings claimed that they were for a “science project,” and even offered one victim “$20 a pair”.

If the victims declined to comply with Cummings’ demands, he threatened the victims including death threats, threatening to publicly post the victims’ home addresses, distribute the victims’ sexually explicit videos to their teachers and school, or post the victims’ sexually explicit videos to social media.  For example, in a group chat that included a minor boy and at least two of Cummings’ alias social media accounts, Cummings threatened to publicly post a sexually explicit video of a minor victim if the victim did not meet his demands.  Despite the minor boy’s objections, Cummings subsequently posted the video to a group chat on a social media platform.  Using his alias accounts, Cummings continued to taunt the minor boy and threatened to post the victim’s video and address online and send the video to the victim’s teachers.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cummings’ residence on July 19, 2019, and seized his cell phone, which contained images of child pornography, including sexually explicit images of the victims.  The phone also had accessed several of Cummings’ alias social media accounts.  After his arrest that same day, Cummings agreed to speak with investigators.  Cummings made numerous statements attributing exchanges of nude photos on social media and the solicitation of dirty socks for a sexual fetish to his teenage son, stating that he had two sons, ages 15 and nine, who lived with his mother in Pennsylvania.  Further, Cummings stated that he asked his brother to pick up socks from his post office box and deliver them to his son in Pennsylvania.  In fact, Cummings is an only child, has not fathered or raised any children, and his mother has never raised or kept any children for Cummings.                     

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.         

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and FBI for their work in the investigation, and thanked the Baltimore Police Department for its assistance.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary W. Setzer and Christine L. Duey, who are prosecuting the federal case, and recognized Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for his assistance.

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 grand jury has returned an indictment charging James William Wilson, Jr., age 74, of Owings Mills, Maryland; and Maureen Ann Wilson, age 73, of Owings Mills, Maryland with federal charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and filing a false tax return.  James Wilson has also been charged with aggravated identity theft.

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

According to the 21-count indictment, from at least 1996 until the present, the Wilsons conspired to fraudulently obtain more than 30 life insurance policies, worth more than $20 million in life insurance benefits, on behalf of applicants.  Specifically, the Indictment alleges that the life insurance applications contained material misrepresentations about the applicant, including the amount of the applicant’s existing life insurance coverage, the applicant’s health, and the applicant’s income.

The indictment further alleges that the Wilsons fraudulently obtained money from victim investors to pay the premiums on life insurance policies. Allegedly, the Wilsons obtained these funds by misleading victim investors to believe their money was being used as either a loan or an investment that would be repaid with interest, when, in fact, the money was being used to pay premiums on fraudulently-obtained life insurance policies. 

The indictment further alleges that the Wilsons forged signatures to make themselves and other nominees they controlled the owners and the beneficiaries of the life insurance policies.  The Indictment alleges that when certain insureds died, the Wilsons received more than $8 million in life insurance proceeds.

Further, the indictment alleges the Wilsons attempted to launder and conceal the fraudulently-obtained funds by controlling multiple bank accounts, opening bank accounts with nominee owners, and causing fraud proceeds to move through bank accounts owned by others.

The indictment further alleges that Wilsons filed false tax returns in 2018 and 2019 when they failed to report millions of dollars of fraudulently-obtained life insurance proceeds.

If convicted, James and Maureen Wilson face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering with intent to conceal; and three years in federal prison for each count of filing a false tax return. James Wilson faces a mandatory sentence of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for each of two counts of aggravated identity theft. Maureen Wilson faces 10 years in federal prison for transactional money laundering. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

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. 

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Maryland Insurance Administration, and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Stephanie Williamson, and Trial Attorney Shawn Noud of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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