District of Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury convicted a Hopkins man for tax evasion after failing to file income tax returns since 1997, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

Following a five-day trial before Judge Susan Richard Nelson, Daniel Berglund, 64, was convicted on all four counts of tax evasion.

According to the evidence presented at trial, between approximately 1987 and 2017, Berglund was the owner and sole employee of Faith Software (FAITH) where he worked as a computer language instructor. Despite earning a substantial income annually through FAITH, Berglund did not file any individual income tax returns since 1997, and never once filed a corporate tax return of any kind on behalf of FAITH. Proving that he was well aware of his tax obligations, Berglund took numerous steps to hide his income from the IRS, including giving his FAITH clients a fabricated Tax Identification Number to prevent their payments from being reported to the IRS as income attributable to him, depositing clients’ payments into accounts where the funds would not be traceable to him, and converting his income into silver that he stashed in concealed locations in his home. Berglund’s evasion resulted in a total tax debt of approximately $146,806.

Berglund faces a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 per count. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division with the assistance of IRS Field Collections.

This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Kimberly A. Svendsen.

MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against a Red Lake man for fatally shooting a Red Lake tribal police officer, assaulting with intent to murder four other officers, and firearms violations, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on July 27, 2021, officers with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department (“RLTPD”) responded to a call to conduct a welfare check on an armed man, David Brian Donnell, Jr., 28, at his residence in Redby, Minnesota. Five RLTPD officers responded to Donnell’s residence. Upon arrival, the officers found Donnell standing outside on the porch and attempted to have him walk towards the officers, but Donnell instead went inside the residence. Because Donnell had an active tribal warrant and was refusing to comply, the officers made the decision to breach the door. As soon as the door was breached, Donnell opened fire on the officers. Officer Ryan Bialke was immediately struck by gunfire through the front door and fell. Donnell continued shooting, firing several rounds from an Izhmash Saiga 7.62 caliber rifle at the four other officers on the scene. One RLTPD officer returned fire to allow the officers to escape into the woods. Donnell continued firing at the officers as they fled into the woods. Officer Bialke succumbed to his injuries and died on the scene. Donnell then fled the scene, taking the rifle with him. Shortly thereafter, officers arrested Donnell at a nearby residence.

Donnell is charged with one count of first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to commit murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of discharging, carrying, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possessing firearms as an unlawful controlled substance user.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda A. Williams and Joseph S. Teirab are prosecuting the case.

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

MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury found an Illinois man guilty of sex trafficking a woman and transporting another woman to engage in prostitution, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

Following a four-day trial before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, Darnell Deshawn Stennis, 29, was convicted of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, transporting an individual to engage in prostitution, and obstruction.

According to the evidence presented at trial, between January and March 2019, Stennis transported a woman between Minnesota and North Dakota for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. During this same time, Stennis used threats and physical violence to force another woman into performing commercial sex acts. 

On March 25, 2019, officers with the Bloomington Police Department were dispatched to the La Quinta Inn in Bloomington, Minnesota, following a report that a hotel guest heard yelling and what sounded like someone being thrown against a wall. Upon arrival, officers encountered Stennis and the two women, identified as Victim A and Victim B. Officers checked the hotel room and observed obvious signs of a disturbance, including a toilet seat that was broken into multiple pieces and a towel rack that was bent. Victim A reported to officers that Stennis had violently assaulted her after she told him she didn’t want to engage in commercial sex work anymore. Victim A reported that Stennis choked her, bashed her head into the towel rack, and pushed her down onto the toilet seat. Stennis, who also had outstanding warrants, was arrested and placed into custody.

“Darnell Stennis is a violent sex trafficker whose singular goal was to make money by gaining physical, emotional, and financial control over his victims. I commend the trial team and our investigative partners who built a strong case against this defendant and brought him to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

“The damage inflicted upon survivors of this form of sexual exploitation is immeasurable. The victims are subject to multiple forms of trauma, which never fully fade,” said Jamie G. Holt, acting special agent in charge of HSI St. Paul. “Stennis used violent assault, fear, coercion, and control to abuse and exploit two people for nothing more than simple greed. HSI special agents remain steadfast in our pursuit of all those who perpetrate this modern-day slavery.”

This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bloomington Police Department.

This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Manda M. Sertich, and Evan B. Gilead.

MINNEAPOLIS – An Eden Prairie man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing straw purchased firearms and possessing an unregistered firearm.

“Today’s sentencing reaffirms our office’s commitment to reducing gun violence and prosecuting violent offenders who put public safety at risk,” said Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, between June 15, 2020, and October 28, 2020, Damien Lashaun Nelson, 32, conspired with three women to illegally buy multiple firearms that he was prohibited from possessing because he is a convicted felon. One of the straw buyers, Melissa Hallich, 48, of Brooklyn Park, pleaded guilty to buying four guns on behalf of Nelson, including a Taurus .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver, and two Sccy 9mm semi-automatic pistols. Hallich lied on the required ATF Forms 4473, stating that she was the actual purchaser of the guns when, in reality, Nelson gave her money and directed her to buy the guns. On October 22, 2020, Nelson also possessed a loaded Western Field, Model 30, 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun. Because he has multiple prior felony convictions in Dakota, Scott, and Hennepin Counties, Nelson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

Nelson pleaded guilty on December 29, 2020, to one count of conspiracy and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Hallich, who pleaded guilty on June 21, 2021, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2021.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery sentenced the defendant.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Human Trafficking Task Force, the Burnsville Police Department, and the Eden Prairie Police Department, with assistance from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Arizona man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, in February of 2021, Francisco Leon, 31, was one of three occupants staying at a hotel room in South St. Paul. While executing a search warrant for the room, law enforcement discovered two separate bags above the rented room’s bathroom ceiling tiles. Inside the two bags were several clear plastic baggies that contained approximately 14 pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also seized a wire transfer receipt and seven cell phones from the hotel room. On May 20, 2021, Leon pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced the defendant.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dakota County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and the Utah State Highway Patrol.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter, Jr.

MINNEAPOLIS – Two men have been charged by a federal grand jury for their roles in distributing fentanyl onto the Red Lake Indian Reservation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, in March 2021, Christopher Douglas Richard, 40, of Detroit, Michigan, conspired with others to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl on and around the Red Lake Indian Reservation. In a separate indictment, on April 30, 2021, Leroy Varney, 52, of Bemidji, Minnesota, allegedly possessed more than 40 grams of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it on and around the Red Lake Indian Reservation. 

Richard is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances. Varney is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

These cases are the result of investigations conducted by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, and the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Angelica Ramirez.

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

MINNEAPOLIS – Two Lyon County men have each been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $1,138,772.06 in restitution for causing thousands of gallons of oil to spill into the Yellow Medicine River.

According to court documents, on April 24, 2019, Eric Jay Weckwerth-Pineda, 25, of Cottonwood, Minnesota, and Tanner John Sik, 21, of Ivanhoe, Minnesota, traveled to the northwest side of Cottonwood Lake in Lyon County to a bridge that spans a dam between Cottonwood Lake and a creek called Judicial Ditch 24, which flows into the Yellow Medicine River. Weckwerth-Pineda and Sik took guns to the bridge to shoot. Sik used a DPMS AR-15 rifle to fire multiple shots at a diesel fuel pipeline that runs perpendicular across Judicial Ditch 24. Weckwerth-Pineda used the scope on his own rifle to spot Sik’s shots. Weckwerth-Pineda and Sik admit at least one shot struck and ruptured the pipe. Later that day, Weckwerth-Pineda and Sik returned to the area and saw that the pipeline was leaking and reported the leak to the authorities.

According to court documents, the owner of the pipeline, Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P., claimed that the pipe’s rupture caused at least 3,906 gallons of diesel fuel to spill into Judicial Ditch 24 at a cost of approximately $1,122,617.64 to clean up the spill and repair the pipeline. The Environmental Protection Agency also expended $16,154.42 in assisting in the clean-up operation.

“We hope that today’s sentencings cause people to think twice before engaging in irresponsible and reckless behavior in the vicinity of an active pipeline,” said Andrea M. Kropf, Special Agent-in-Charge, Midwestern Region, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “Working with our federal law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue our vigorous efforts to protect the safety and integrity of the pipeline transportation system, as well as our nation’s natural resources and environment.”

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lyon County Attorney’s Office.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Polachek.

MINNEAPOLIS – A recently unsealed federal indictment charges a Minneapolis man with sex trafficking a minor, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, between August 12, 2020, and August 14, 2020, Charles William Dexter III, 40, knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, and advertised a minor victim to engage in a commercial sex act, knowing that the victim had not attained the age of 18 years.

Dexter is a fugitive. The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Dexter’s location and arrests. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, and the Bloomington Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Manda M. Sertich and Chelsea A. Walcker are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Cottage Grove man pleaded guilty today to production, attempted production, and possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, between June 2019 and April 2020, Peter James Monson, 38, engaged in “catfishing” by taking on false personas in order to communicate with children on the internet, including via Snapchat. Monson made a fake Snapchat profile of a 16-year-old girl named “Brianna” and asked minor girls to create sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves to send to Monson so they could be rated by others as “princesses.” In order to participate as a “princess,” Monson used “Brianna’s” profile to instruct the girls to follow certain rules, including creating and sending images and videos of the girls nude or engaging in sex acts.  

According to court documents, in April 2020, Monson also used his iPhone to make a secret recording of an eight-year-old while the child was getting dressed.

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

If you know of any child who may have been a victim of exploitation, please call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit NCMEC’s web site at www.missingkids.com.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, the FBI Philadelphia Field Office, the Cottage Grove Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda E. Dugi.

MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempted distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin, and for illegally possessing firearms as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on April 12, 2021, Walter Davis, a/k/a “Disney,” 39, attempted to distribute a substance containing heroin by depositing it into the United States mail, addressed to one or more recipients at a Minnesota state correctional facility. On April 16, 2021, Davis also possessed a Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver, a Rossi .357 Magnum revolver, and over 100 grams of heroin. Davis has multiple prior felony convictions in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties and therefore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

Davis is charged with one count of attempted distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon.  

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth S. Shnider is prosecuting the case.

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

MINNEAPOLIS – A Stearns County man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms as a felon.

According to court documents, on November 22, 2019, Samuel Charles Skelton, II, 30, sold a pound of methamphetamine for $4,500 to a confidential informant. On January 16, 2020, after conducting surveillance on Skelton, law enforcement arrested him as he traveled from St. Cloud to the Twin Cities. Following the arrest, law enforcement searched Skelton’s black BMW and found 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, digital scales, multiple standard and flip phones, cocaine, $1,665 in U.S. currency, and multiple pills, including gabapentin, cyclobenzapinre, and oxycodone.

According to court documents, on April 13th, 2020, law enforcement was involved in an investigation of a suspected death overdose at a residence in Brook Park, Minnesota. While the investigation was underway, Skelton arrived at the location in a silver BMW. Law enforcement searched Skelton’s vehicle and located a bag containing 14 grams of methamphetamine, three bags containing 9.4 grams of marijuana, four loaded 30 round magazines containing .223 ammunition and one loaded 30 round magazine containing .300 ammunition, and four firearms, including a loaded 9mm Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun, a High Standard .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, an Anderson .300 caliber AR-15 style rifle, and a .223 caliber FR AR-15 style rifle.

Skelton has multiple prior felony convictions in Clay and Stearns Counties and therefore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis sentenced the defendant.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Task Force, the East Central Drug and Violent Offenders Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the St. Paul Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Texas man pleaded guilty today to a federal riot charge in connection to the 2020 civil unrest, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, Ivan Hunter, 24, admitted to traveling from San Antonio, Texas to Minneapolis with the intent to participate in a riot. Hunter is a self-described member of the Boogaloo Bois, a loosely connected group of individuals who espouse violent anti-government sentiments. The term “Boogaloo” itself references an impending second civil war in the United States and is associated with violent uprisings against the government.

On the night of May 28, 2020, Hunter was captured on video discharging 13 rounds from an AK-47 style semiautomatic rifle into the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building. At the time of the shooting there were other individuals believed to be looters still inside the building. Law enforcement recovered from the scene discharged rifle casings consistent with an AK-47 style firearm.

According to court documents, upon returning to Texas, Hunter made various statements on social media describing the violence in which he engaged in Minneapolis. On June 3, 2020, officers with the Austin Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a pick-up truck for numerous traffic violations. Hunter was one of three occupants in the vehicle. Hunter, the front seat passenger, had six loaded magazines for an AK-47 style assault rifle affixed to a tactical vest he was wearing. Officers found three semi-automatic rifles on the rear seat of the vehicle, one loaded pistol in plain view next to the driver’s seat, and another loaded pistol in the center console. Several days after the traffic stop, federal agents became aware of Hunter’s online affiliation with Boogaloo Bois member Steven Carrillo, who has been charged in the Northern District of California with the May 29, 2020, murder of a Federal Protective Service Officer in Oakland, California.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter, and Trial Attorneys George Kraehe and Felice John Viti of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on July 6, 2020, Donell Deon Flowers, 26, a member of the Tre Tre Crips gang, knowingly possessed a loaded Ruger LCP .380 semi-automatic pistol, with an obliterated serial number. The firearm was equipped with a large capacity magazine, capable of accepting more than 15 rounds of ammunition. Flowers is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. He has multiple prior felony convictions in Hennepin County and one prior federal conviction for possession of a firearm as a felon.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan H. Nelson is prosecuting the case.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man was sentenced yesterday to 110 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a stolen firearm.

According to court documents, on August 19, 2019, law enforcement received a tip that Antonio Tedell Hammonds-Ford, 29, was walking around a parking lot wearing a replica bullet proof vest and carrying a firearm. After reviewing surveillance footage, law enforcement confirmed the defendant’s identity and responded to the parking lot. When officers approached, Hammonds-Ford pulled a handgun from his waistband and dropped it one the ground and attempted to walk away. The firearm was a loaded Norinco 9mm semiautomatic pistol and Hammonds-Ford admitted that he knew the gun was stolen.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced the defendant.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Minneapolis Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Jacobs.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Moorhead man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm in his residence after a minor was shot and killed with his gun, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on March 21, 2021, Phillip Neal Jones, Jr., 34, possessed a Walther .40 caliber pistol in his Moorhead residence. While Jones was away from the residence, a visiting child found the loaded gun under a large snack chip box in the kitchen. The gun went off, hitting and killing a second child.

Jones has multiple prior felony convictions in Hennepin and Anoka Counties and therefore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Moorhead Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber M. Brennan is prosecuting the case.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man was sentenced today to 228 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for trafficking thousands of fentanyl-laced pills.

According to court documents, Lyndon Aukeem Swarn, a/k/a Lyndon Aukeem Wiggins, 36, trafficked large amounts of imitation oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. In October 2019, law enforcement searched two properties associated with Swarn and seized more than 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills, 120 pounds of marijuana, three firearms, and $22,300 in cash. Law enforcement agents also raided Swarn’s farm in Ironwood, Michigan, and seized 300 pounds of marijuana, fentanyl-laced pills, Swarn’s passport, and more than $8,000 in cash.

According to court documents, following the raids, Swarn continued his fentanyl trafficking activities. On July 21, 2020, law enforcement arrested Swarn and executed a search warrant on his Hopkins residence and his vehicle. As a result of the searches, law enforcement seized a total of 34,640 fentanyl-laced pills, $21,000 in cash, and a firearm.

Swarn has also been charged in Hennepin County District Court with first-degree premeditated murder in connection to the 2019 kidnapping and murder of a local real estate agent.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank sentenced the defendant.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Hopkins Police Department, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Dunne and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Paulsen.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Itasca County man was sentenced today to 160 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting an individual with his vehicle, resulting in serious bodily injury, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

“Mr. Doerr is a danger to the community, his actions caused pain and suffering for both the victims and for the White Earth community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “I hope today’s sentence offers a sense of relief and an opportunity to heal.”   

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on April 7, 2020, Kevin Doerr, 35, was driving erratically through Elbow Lake Village on the White Earth Indian Reservation. Neighbors called 911 to report that a silver Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by Doerr, was trying to run people over and chasing people through the neighborhood. When law enforcement arrived, they found a chaotic scene with neighbors outside and badly injured victims. Law enforcement took Doerr into custody and the victims were airlifted to the hospital.

Doerr was convicted by a federal jury on May 20, 2021, on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Judge Susan Richard Nelson sentenced Doerr to serve 80 months in prison for each count, to be served consecutively, followed by three years of supervised release.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the White Earth Police Department, the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force and the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina L. Allery and Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad tried the case.

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MINNEAPOLIS – A federal criminal complaint has been filed against four individuals for their involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.

Victor Carbello, 50, of Glendale, Arizona, Carmelo Jerry D’Alessandro, 28, of Phoenix, Giovanni Luon D’Alessandro, 23, of Phoenix, and Taureen Curtis Jackson, 36, of Minneapolis, were charged with one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. All four defendants made their initial appearances earlier today before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby in U.S. District Court.

According to court documents, on September 19, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Carbello. After Carbello consented to a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located inside a secret compartment of the vehicle three brick-shaped packages weighing approximately 10 pounds. The powdery substance inside the packages tested positive for fentanyl. Law enforcement also located more than 10,000 pills, suspected to contain fentanyl.

On September 21, 2021, law enforcement officers conduct a controlled delivery of the drugs to Carmelo D’Alessandro and Giovanni D’Alessandro at a residence in New Hope, Minnesota. Once the delivery was completed, law enforcement arrested the four defendants and executed a search warrant on the residence. The search resulted in the seizure of several thousand dollars in cash, two firearms, and five pills containing suspected fentanyl.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Hope Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MINNEAPOLIS – A federal criminal complaint has been filed against a Dodge County man for impersonating a federal law enforcement officer, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on August 17, 2021, the FBI received a tip that Reyel Devon Simmons, 52, of Dodge Center, was impersonating a federal agent with the United States Department of Homeland Security. The investigation revealed that Simmons used the false name “Rey Reeves,” and regularly held himself out as a federal agent on social media. Simmons, who had nearly 10,000 followers on TikTok, used a profile photo that showed him wearing law enforcement gear and made several posts displaying law enforcement equipment, badges, and firearms, and referring explicitly and implicitly to himself as a federal agent.

According to court documents, Simmons is not, and has never been, employed by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Anyone who has had an interaction with Simmons is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Ham Lake man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for an armed carjacking, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on June 5, 2021, Jerome Lee Swanson, 20, armed with a Ruger, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, used force, violence, and intimidation to steal a gray 2005 Buick La Crosse from the vehicle’s owner.

Swanson is charged with one count of carjacking and one count of using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Swanson, who is currently in state custody in Wright County, will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp is prosecuting the case.

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

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Four defendants have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a robbery occurring at a residence on the Red Lake Indian Reservation.

According to court documents, on October 1, 2019, Alexander Keith Blue, 30, Dustin Lee Jourdain, 32, Shaleigha Kate Strong, 22, and Delores Silverrain Robinson, 29, traveled in Robinson’s vehicle to a residence on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Robinson remained in the vehicle while Blue, Jourdain, and Strong forced open the front door using a hammer or pry tool. Once inside, the three defendants stole various items, including a .22 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, an Xbox gaming system, and a container of change. The defendants fled the scene with the stolen items in Robinson’s vehicle. A minor was present in the house at the time of the robbery. Jourdain later sold the stolen firearms, one of which was recovered by law enforcement during an unrelated narcotics operation in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Blue, Jourdain, and Strong, who each pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting robbery, were sentenced to 66 months, 27 months, and 24 months in prison, respectively. Robinson, who pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting first-degree burglary, was sentenced to six months in prison. As part of their sentence, all four defendants received three years of supervised release and were ordered to pay $1,150 in restitution to the victims.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud sentenced the defendants.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Emily Claire Hari, 50, f/k/a Michael Hari, was sentenced to 53 years in prison for the August 5, 2017, bombing of the Dar al-Farooq (DAF) Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.

On December 9, 2020, following a five-week trial, Hari was convicted by a federal jury on all five counts of the indictment, including intentionally defacing, damaging, and destroying religious property because of the religious character of that property; intentionally obstructing, and attempting to obstruct, by force and the threat of force, the free exercise of religious beliefs; conspiracy to commit federal felonies by means of fire and explosives; carrying and using a destructive device during and in relation to crimes of violence; and possession of an unregistered destructive device.

In handing down the sentence, United States District Judge Donovan W. Frank described the attack orchestrated by Hari as a highly sophisticated and premeditated act of domestic terrorism.

“Hari sought to terrorize an entire faith community. Today’s sentence makes clear that such acts of hate-fueled terror will not be tolerated,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The Dar al-Farooq community has shown powerful strength and resolve during this case. As demonstrated by this verdict and sentence against Hari, the Justice Department will prosecute hate crimes to the full extent of the law, including those that target places of worship and other religious sites.”

“Today, the person responsible for the 2017 bombing of the Dar al-Farooq mosque has been sentenced to 53 years in prison. Through our system of justice, the Minnesota community has collectively condemned this hate-fueled attack and decisively upheld every individual’s Constitutional right to live and worship free from violence and intimidation,” said Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk. “As we mark the closing of a painful chapter, it is my hope that the members of Dar al-Farooq and the broader faith community impacted by this attack will continue to heal and regain a sense of safety and security.”

“Acts of violence, motivated by hatred toward individuals simply based on their faith, will not be tolerated by the FBI or our Minnesota law enforcement partners,” said Michael Paul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Minneapolis division. “Violent criminals such as those responsible for this cowardly act, will be held accountable for their hate crimes and disgraceful attempts at intimidation. This sentence demonstrates our continued commitment to the FBI’s core mission – to defend all communities and to protect the rights of all Americans.”

As proven at trial, during the summer of 2017, Hari established a terrorist militia group called “The White Rabbits” in Clarence, Illinois. Hari recruited co-defendants Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris to join the militia, which Hari outfitted with paramilitary equipment and assault rifles. On August 4 and 5, 2017, Hari, McWhorter, and Morris drove in a rented pickup truck from Illinois to Bloomington, Minnesota, to bomb the DAF Islamic Center. Hari targeted DAF specifically to terrorize Muslims into believing they are not welcome in the United States and should leave the country.

As proven at trial, Hari, McWhorter, and Morris arrived at DAF on August 5, 2017, at approximately 5:00 a.m. At Hari’s direction, Morris used a sledgehammer to break the window of the Imam’s office at DAF and threw a plastic container with a mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline into the office. Then, also at Hari’s direction, McWhorter lit the fuse on a 20-pound black powder pipe bomb and threw it through the broken window. McWhorter and Morris ran back to the truck where Hari was waiting in the driver’s seat. The three men sped away from the building and drove back to Illinois. When the pipe bomb exploded, the blast caused extensive damage to the Imam’s office. It also ignited the gasoline and diesel mixture, causing extensive fire and smoke damage. At the time of the bombing, several worshipers were gathered in the mosque for morning prayers.

On January 24, 2019, McWhorter and Morris pleaded guilty to their roles in the bombing. Their sentencing hearings are yet to be scheduled.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.

Acting United States Attorney Folk thanks Assistant United States Attorneys Allison Ethen and Timothy Rank, Justice Department Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Timothy Visser, Lead Paralegal Specialist Lynette Simser, Community Affairs Director Angie LaTour, Witness Specialist Selina Kolsrud, former Assistant United States Attorneys John Docherty and Julie Allyn, Assistant United States Attorney Eugene Miller, of the Central District of Illinois, and the special agents of the FBI’s Minneapolis and Springfield Divisions, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bloomington Police Department, and the Bloomington Fire Department for their hard work and commitment to the pursuit of justice. Acting United States Attorney Folk further thanks the Justice Department’s Civil Rights and National Security Divisions, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, and the FBI’s Springfield Field Office for their collaboration and partnership.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Red Lake man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on November 21, 2020, Joshua Jon Lussier, 34, was arrested in Hubbard County, Minnesota, pursuant to a federal arrest warrant. In Lussier’s vehicle, law enforcement observed in plain sight a glass smoking device commonly used for methamphetamine and approximately ten grams of methamphetamine. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed 893 grams of methamphetamine, 83 grams of fentanyl, and drug distribution paraphernalia, including common cutting agents used to increase the total weight amount of controlled substances. Lussier admitted that the drugs in his vehicle belonged to him and were intended for distribution.

In April 2019, Lussier was found in possession of a Remington .243 caliber, Model 770 rifle. Because he has a prior felony conviction in Pennington County, Lussier is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety and the FBI Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead is prosecuting the case.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man and woman pleaded guilty to their roles in an armed carjacking that occurred last summer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on August 28, 2020, Jeremiah Lee Ironrope, 24, and Krisanne Marie Benjamin, 25, drove a maroon SUV to a parking lot in Richfield, Minnesota, and parked next to a 2017 Audi A4. Ironrope exited the SUV and pointed a Remington 870 l2-gauge sawed-off shotgun at the driver of the Audi. Ironrope demanded the car keys and then drove off in the Audi while Benjamin followed in the SUV. The following day when law enforcement attempted to stop the solen Audi, Ironrope sped away, driving erratically through traffic. Officers lost sight of the vehicle but later found it after the defendants abandoned it. The vehicle had been partially spray-painted black and inside officers found a variety of property including a stolen wallet, bottles of spray paint, a hat, gloves, and a used 12-gauge shotgun shell under the driver’s seat.

As part of their guilty pleas, Ironrope and Benjamin admitted to two additional carjackings that occurred on July 26, 2020, in Maple Grove and August 7, 2020, in St. Paul. In both instances, the defendants physically assaulted the victims before stealing their vehicles. Ironrope also admitted to two December 2020 carjackings occurring in St. Louis Park and St. Paul. In both instances, Ironrope pointed a handgun at the victims before stealing their vehicles.

Ironrope pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Benjamin pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting carjacking.

“Twin Cities motorists are safer with these two off the streets,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “Over the past year we have witnessed a spike in carjackings throughout the metro area. Federal law enforcement will not tolerate this type of crime on our streets and will continue to investigate and prosecute violent perpetrators such as this.”

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the St. Paul Police Department, the Maple Grove Police Department, the Richfield Police Department, the Edina Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, and the Minnesota State Patrol.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan H. Nelson.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Paul man pleaded guilty today to one count of interstate communication of a threat against a U.S. Representative, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on January 11, 2021, Jason Robert Burham Karimi, 32, left a voicemail on the office telephone of a U.S. Representative located in California. The voicemail contained graphic threats of violence directed at the U.S. Representative. The U.S. Capitol Police reviewed the voicemail and traced the telephone number to Karimi. On January 12, 2021, agents arranged to meet with Karimi near his St. Paul residence. Karimi told agents that he works as a lobbyist for the marijuana industry and the voicemail was meant to cause “political pain” to the U.S. Representative’s political career. Karimi admitted that he knew the voicemail he left would be perceived as a threat.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Rochester man pleaded guilty today to producing sexually explicit images and videos of a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, between November 8, 2020, and January 8, 2021, Arkady Pavlovich Pichurin, 26, sexually exploited a minor who was between the ages of nine and 10 years old at the time. Pichurin, who contacted the minor using a variety of instant messaging and texting services, including Snapchat, lied about his age and identity to carry out his sexual exploitation of the minor. Pichurin admitted to using similar tactics to sexually exploit and produce pornographic images and videos of more than twenty minors.

Pichurin is scheduled to be sentenced on January 4, 2022.

“This is a particularly egregious case involving an adult using popular social media apps to prey on and exploit dozens of children,” said Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk. “I commend the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office and the investigators with the Rochester Police Department and the FBI for aggressively pursuing this sexual predator and holding him accountable for the harm he caused. We continue to urge parents, teachers, caregivers, and young people alike to be vigilant in reporting these types of crimes to law enforcement.”

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

If you know of any child who may have been a victim of exploitation, please call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit NCMEC’s web site at www.missingkids.com.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Rochester Police Department, with substantial assistance from the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine is prosecuting the case.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Rochester woman pleaded guilty today to being an accessory after the fact to arson of multiple St. Paul businesses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on May 28, 2020, Mena Dhaya Yousif, 23, and her husband, co-defendant Jose Angel Felan Jr., 35, went to several businesses located on University Avenue in St. Paul. Felan allegedly set fire to the Goodwill retail store, the Gordon Parks High School, and the 7 Mile Sportswear store. Over the course of the following week, Yousif aided and abetted Felan as he fled from Minnesota to Texas, before crossing the border into Mexico. Yousif traveled with Felan and assisted his escape by destroying evidence and providing false information to law enforcement.

In February 2021, Felan and Yousif were arrested by Mexican law enforcement authorities and returned to the United States to face prosecution.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the St. Paul Police Department, the St. Paul Fire Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division. The fugitive apprehension efforts were led by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda A. Williams and Emily Polachek are prosecuting the case.

MINNEAPOLIS – Three Native Mob gang members have been sentenced to prison for methamphetamine distribution and assault.

According to court documents, Robin Lee Lussier, a/k/a Ratchet, 32, Willard Duane Reed, III, a/k/a Left, a/k/a Leftfield, 26, and Joshua Adam Hanks, a/k/a Souless, 25, were active members of the Native Mob gang, a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engage in and have engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and assault. Between December 1, 2015 and January 1, 2019, Lussier and Reed conspired with each other and others to traffic pound-quantities of methamphetamine throughout northern Minnesota, including but not limited to Cass Lake, Bemidji, and the Red Lake Indian Reservation.

According to court documents, in November 2018, after receiving information about another fellow gang member’s failure to abide by the rules of the Native Mob, Lussier directed Hanks to carry out an assault against the individual. Hanks admitted that on December 5, 2018, he intentionally assaulted the individual, in part, to maintain or increase his own position within the Native Mob.

Lussier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering activity and was sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Reed pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Hanks pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering activity and was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis sentenced the defendant.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota Department of Corrections, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Red Lake Tribal Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew R. Winter and Bradley M. Endicott.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on June 1, 2019, officers with the Minneapolis Police Department seized 351 counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl from Fowzi Abdinasir Elmi, 19. On January 21, 2020, Elmi and two other individuals drove to Arizona with the intent of buying fentanyl pills and then returning to Minnesota to distribute them. Elmi successfully purchased the pills but was stopped by law enforcement in Oklahoma. Approximately 2,100 counterfeit prescription fentanyl pills were seized from Elmi. On September 15, 2020, Elmi, along with two other individuals, got into a single vehicle car crash. When Minneapolis police officers arrived, they found Elmi in possession of 170 counterfeit prescription fentanyl pills. Elmi admitted to purchasing the pills for $15 per pill and selling them for $30-$35 per pill.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Minneapolis Police Department, and the State of Oklahoma District One Narcotics Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David P. Steinkamp and Justin A. Wesley are prosecuting the case.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Burnsville man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to court documents, on July 13, 2019, officers with the Minneapolis Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Hashim Salah Haji, 25, was riding in the front passenger seat. When officers ordered Haji to step out of the vehicle, a stolen 9mm Springfield Armory model XD9 pistol fell out of the defendant’s shorts. Officers also found a 50-round large capacity magazine and a 9mm Intratec "Tec 9" model AB10 pistol inside a backpack that was on the floor of the front passenger seat between the defendant's legs. Haji has previous felony convictions in Dakota County, and therefore is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

On September 1, 2020, Haji pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced the defendant.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 was the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin A. Wesley and David P. Steinkamp.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Red Lake man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing an unregistered firearm.

According to court documents, on September 27, 2019, following a 911 call, officers responded to a Red Lake residence and found Keith Wayne Lussier, Jr., 36, in possession of a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun. Lussier initially refused the officers’ commands to surrender, but ultimately put down the shotgun and was taken into custody.

On November 6, 2020, Lussier pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an unregistered firearm.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced the defendant.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Red Lake Department of Public Safety.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Faribault man was sentenced today to 75 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to court documents, on June 15, 2020, multiple law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at a Faribault residence belonging to Andrew Albert Comeaux, 38. During the search, law enforcement found a Mossberg 702 Plinkster .22 caliber rifle, a Mosin-Nagant 7.62x54R rifle, several boxes of .223 caliber ammunition, methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. Comeaux also admitted to possessing an unserialized AR-15 style pistol with a large capacity magazine and a homemade silencer. Because Comeaux has prior felony convictions in Blue Earth County and in Le Sueur County, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

On February 3, 2021, Comeaux pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced the defendant.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the South Central Drug Task Force, the Cannon River Drug Task Force, Rice and Steel County Sheriff’s Offices, the Faribault and Owatonna Police Departments, Metro SWAT, and the St. Paul Bomb Squad, with coordination from the Rice County Attorney’s Office.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found two men guilty of illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

Following a three-day trial before Judge Paul A. Magnuson, a jury found Jarvae Josiah Somerville, 28, of White Bear Lake, and Ronald Donte Finley, Jr., 26, of Minneapolis, guilty of one count each of illegal possession of a firearm.

“The increase in violence, throughout the Twin Cities, often as a result of firearms in the possession of felons, must end. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with our local law enforcement partners to focus on those individuals who put public safety at risk,” said Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk. “Today’s verdict helps reaffirm our collective commitment to reducing the gun violence.” 

“When ATF was asked to take part in the U.S. Attorney’s Violent Crime Task Force initiative last summer, we fully committed to investigating the top violent offenders wreaking havoc in Minneapolis,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Reed, of the St. Paul Field Division. “It’s clear with today’s verdict that these two had little regard for the safety of others. We hope this verdict is a warning to those who are illegally possessing and using firearms in the Twin Cities. ATF continues to work alongside the Minneapolis Police Department and our other law enforcement partners to pursue individuals choosing to inflict violence on others using firearms.”

According to the evidence presented at trial, Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers were investigating a shooting, when the officers witnessed Somerville and Finley at a restaurant on Lake Street in Minneapolis. While Somerville was inside the restaurant and Finley was outside near an Infinity sedan that the men were driving, officers moved in to make an arrest. When officers approached Finley, Finley ran from the Infinity sedan but was apprehended and arrested. Inside the Infiniti sedan, officers found a Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine. When officers entered the restaurant and attempted to arrest Somerville, Somerville ran inside a private bathroom in the back of the restaurant. Two officers chasing Somerville followed Somerville inside, and Somerville reached into his waistband. Concerned that Somerville was reaching for a firearm, an officer grabbed Somerville’s hands, and the three men struggled until other officers arrived to assist. After Somerville was handcuffed and taken into custody, officers recovered from the floor of the bathroom a Glock, .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine.

After the arrests, officers executed a search warrant at Somerville’s residence and found a box of .45 caliber ammunition the same model of which was found in the firearm found in the bathroom.  Officers also found a gun cleaning kit. Investigators later confirmed that Finley’s fingerprints were present on the magazine of the 9mm pistol found in the Infiniti sedan.

Because Somerville has prior felony convictions in Hennepin County and Finley has prior felony convictions in Cook County, Illinois, they are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez tried the case.

 

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MINNEAPOLIS – An Owatonna man pleaded guilty today to possession of an unregistered firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office received information that Dayton Charles Sauke, 22, was selling narcotics and manufacturing and dealing firearms without a license. Law enforcement agents monitored Sauke’s Snapchat account where he made numerous posts consistent with manufacturing and dealing firearms without a license. Sauke also posted pictures of a short-barreled shotgun and made several threatening posts about killing law enforcement and politicians. On January 15, 2021, two undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) met with Sauke and purchased from him a privately made firearm. During the meeting, Sauke had a short-barreled shotgun with him and showed it to the undercover agents. The short-barreled shotgun was later recovered by law enforcement officials and examined by an ATF expert, who determined it was an operable 12-gauge shotgun with a barrel length of approximately 11 inches and a total overall length of 18 inches. Federal law requires shotguns with reduced barrels and overall lengths (often referred to as “sawed-off” or “short-barreled” shotguns) to be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The shotgun was not registered to Sauke.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the South Central Drug Investigations Unit, and the Cannon River Drug Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin A. Wesley is prosecuting the case.

 

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Inver Grove Heights man was sentenced today to 180 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for producing sexually explicit images of a minor.

According to court documents, Antonio Eric Torres Maldonado, 34, admitted to sexually abusing a minor over a multiple year period. During this time, Maldonado used his cell phone to take sexually explicit photographs of the minor.

On April 21, 2021, Maldonado pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of production and attempted production of child pornography. Maldonado was also charged and convicted in Dakota County of first degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced to 172 months in prison, which will be served concurrent to the federal sentence.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson sentenced the defendant.

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

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Lakeville Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela M. Munoz.

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MINNEAPOLIS – A Duluth man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, Jesse William Peterson, 40, admitted to possessing a .38-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver with an obliterated serial number. On October 25, 2020, officers with the Duluth Police Department attempted to arrest Peterson at a residence on an outstanding warrant. Peterson refused to exit the residence and comply with officers’ attempts to arrest him. After a two-hour stand-off, Peterson was taken into custody. Officers found the loaded .38-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver in the bathroom where Peterson was located during the stand-off. A subsequent analysis revealed Peterson’s DNA on the firearm. Directly adjacent to the firearm, officers found 13.76 grams of methamphetamine, 11.13 grams of cocaine, 38 doses of LSD, $5,826 in cash, and 11 live rounds of .38-caliber ammunition. Because Peterson has prior felony convictions in St. Louis County, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Duluth Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph S. Teirab is prosecuting the case.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Apple Valley man was sentenced today to 27 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for defrauding his employer out of more than $930,000.

According to court documents, in February 2014, Gregg William Johnson, 59, was hired as the Chief Financial Officer for a Minnesota-based manufacturing company. As part of his job duties, Johnson was responsible for overseeing and tracking all cash flow for the company and had signatory authority on the company’s bank accounts. Between 2014 and July 2020, Johnson stole approximately $930,000 in company funds by issuing checks from the company’s bank accounts to cover personal expenses such as credit card payments, mortgage payments, and college tuition for his children. To conceal his theft, Johnson added false entries into the company’s accounting software to make the cashflow appear balanced.

On March 4, 2021, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank sentenced the defendant.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Apple Valley Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison K. Ethen and Kimberly A. Svendsen.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Golden Valley man was sentenced yesterday to 270 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for transporting images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors.

According to court documents, in February 2020, Robert Lawrence Stace, 37, a registered sex offender, downloaded hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors. Stace accessed the child exploitation files from the computer lab of a community center while on supervised release for his prior child sexual exploitation convictions. This conduct also violated the terms of Stace’s state supervised release and Stace is presently serving a Minnesota Department of Corrections sentence for these violations.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced the defendant.

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

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department, with assistance from Hennepin County Probation Officers.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Hudleston.

MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul woman has been indicted on federal sex trafficking charges for allegedly recruiting six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, from May 2020 through December 2020, Gisela Castro Medina, 19, and co-defendant Anton Joseph Lazzaro, 30, conspired with each other and others to recruit and solicit six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts. Castro Medina, who was arrested on August 12, 2021, in Okaloosa County, Florida, made her initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon, in U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Florida.

The indictment charges Castro Medina with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, and one count of obstruction. Castro Medina will be transported to the District of Minnesota and will remain in custody pending further court proceedings. Co-defendant Lazzaro will remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing, which has been rescheduled for August 24, 2021.

Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI Minneapolis Division at 763-569-8000.

This case is the result of a joint investigation by the FBI and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension-led Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force, with assistance from the Minneapolis Police Department, the West Hennepin Public Safety Department, and the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela M. Munoz, Emily A. Polachek, and Laura M. Provinzino are prosecuting the case.

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

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been arrested and indicted on federal sex trafficking charges for allegedly recruiting six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, from May 2020 through December 2020, Anton Joseph Lazzaro, a/k/a “Tony Lazzaro,” 30, conspired with others to recruit and solicit six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts. Lazzaro, who was taken into custody earlier today by FBI agents, made his initial appearance in United States District Court before Magistrate Judge Becky Thorson.

The indictment charges Lazzaro with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of obstruction. Lazzaro will remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing on August 16, 2021.

Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI Minneapolis Division at 763-569-8000.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minneapolis Police Department, the West Hennepin Public Safety Department, and the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura M. Provinzino, Angela M. Munoz, and Emily A. Polachek are prosecuting the case.

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

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found a Minneapolis man guilty of possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

Following a four-day trial before Judge Eric C. Tostrud, Gene Paul Schave, 50, was convicted of one count of possession of child pornography.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Schave is a registered sex offender who was convicted in 2010 in Minnesota state court for possessing child pornography. On October 3, 2019, while on supervised release for his previous conviction, Schave was found to be in possession of an Asus tablet that contained more than 3,000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minneapolis Police Department.

This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miranda E Dugi and Emily A. Polachek. 

MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury found a St. Paul man guilty of arson and riot after looting, damaging, and burning businesses in downtown Minneapolis, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

Following a four-day trial before Judge Joan N. Ericksen, Victor Devon Edwards, 32, was convicted of one count of riot and one count of arson.

According to the evidence presented at trial, on the evening of August 26, 2020, Edwards joined a large crowd that had gathered in downtown Minneapolis following false rumors regarding police involvement in the death of a man on Nicollet Mall earlier that evening. Throughout the course of the evening, Edwards engaged in acts of rioting, looting, and other property damage. Beginning around 9:00 p.m., Edwards and his co-defendant Shador Tommie Cortez Jackson worked together to steal women’s purses and other items from Saks Off Fifth. Edwards sent text messages to various acquaintances telling them, “I got M[ichael] K[ors] purses.” In response to a text message from one acquaintance asking why he was downtown, Edwards simply replied, “Lootin.”

Shortly before 11:00 p.m., Edwards and Jackson were captured on video surveillance using a construction sign to break into the Target Corporation’s headquarters building. Once inside, Jackson started a fire inside the mailroom while Edwards added a liquid accelerant to fuel the fire.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the Minneapolis Fire Department, and the Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Richfield Police Departments.

This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Chelsea A. Walcker.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty today to seven violent armed robberies of Twin Cities businesses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on July 28, 2020, Derrick Lee Spillman, 40, robbed three Twin Cities businesses, including a Holiday gas station and two liquor stores. During the robberies, Spillman pointed handguns at employees and ordered them to the ground or physically assaulted them. On July 30, 2020, Spillman continued his crime spree by robbing two additional Holiday gas stations, a Speedway gas station, and a Subway restaurant. During these incidents, Spillman pointed a handgun at employees, racked the slide of the gun, and demanded cash from the registers.

Spillman pleaded guilty to seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

“Working in tandem with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue, arrest, and prosecute violent, armed criminals such as Mr. Spillman,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Fridley Police Department, the Brooklyn Center Police Department, the New Hope Police Department, and the St. Paul Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin A. Wesley is prosecuting the case.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a Hobbs Act robbery that resulted in the shooting death of a store clerk, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on April 27, 2021, Marlow Ramsey Carson, 30, robbed Blue Sky Wireless and West Bend Furniture located in Minneapolis. During the robbery, Carson, armed with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, used force, threats of force, violence, and injury, resulting in the victim’s death. Carson has prior felony convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

Carson is charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of possession of a firearm as a felon, and one count of possession of ammunition as a felon. Carson made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and Samantha H. Bates are prosecuting the case.

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

MINNEAPOLIS – An Illinois man was sentenced today to 105 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for setting fire to a cell phone store in Minneapolis in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd.

According to court documents, on May 28, 2020, Matthew Lee Rupert, 29, a resident of Galesburg, Illinois, posted messages on his Facebook account referencing the public protests occurring in the Twin Cities following the death of George Floyd, including one that stated, “I’m going to Minneapolis tomorrow who coming only goons I’m renting hotel rooms.” On May 29, 2020, Rupert broadcast a Facebook Live video indicating that he was in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rupert announced that he came “to riot,” and is depicted handing out artillery-shell fireworks, encouraging violence against law enforcement officers, actively damaging property, breaking into buildings, and looting businesses.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed with the court, the video also depicts Rupert asking for lighter fluid before entering a boarded-up Sprint store located on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. Rupert canvassed the store and eventually entered a backroom while telling others that he had located a store safe. Rupert and others then knocked several boxes into a pile on the ground. Rupert doused the pile of boxes with lighter fluid and then directed another individual—at the time a juvenile—to light the pile on fire. Rupert fled the building and stated, “I lit it on fire!” The store sustained significant damage as a result of the fire.

“Matthew Rupert chose to drive more than 400 miles from his home in Illinois to Minnesota to engage in violence and destruction, all while broadcasting it for the world to see. Peaceful protest was not on his agenda,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “Arson, looting, property damage, and the glorification of it, will not be tolerated. Today, justice has caught up with Mr. Rupert as he must now account for his crimes.”

“Today, we count yet another violent offender as held to account for his reckless and deliberate damage to our community,” said Michael Paul, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis field office. “Mr. Rupert made his way to Minneapolis for the express purpose of instigating lawless behavior on our local streets. He demonstrated no purpose other than endangering peaceful protests by actively encouraging violence against law enforcement and personally destroying community businesses. Together with our local partners, FBI Minneapolis and ATF St. Paul continue to hold indifferent criminals like Mr. Rupert accountable for their dangerous and divisive criminal conduct in the Twin Cities.”

“Arson is a dangerous act of violence,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jon Ortiz, St. Paul Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). “Arson poses a great threat to public safety. ATF works diligently to secure public safety. The defendant in this case committed a reckless act of violence on unsuspecting members of this community. We are thankful that no one was seriously injured or killed as a result of this crime. This sentencing will send a message to anyone who considers conducting these types of violent acts that they will not be tolerated. ATF will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that this community remains a safe place.”

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Minneapolis Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the FBI Chicago Field Office, the FBI Springfield Field Office, and the Chicago Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela M. Munoz and Jordan L. Sing.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty today to possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on May 21, 2020, law enforcement arrested Deshawn Tyrone Braziel, 36, who had an outstanding warrant and was suspected in connection with a shooting that occurred in Minneapolis on April 16, 2020. At the time of his arrest, Braziel was wearing a backpack containing a loaded, Springfield XD 9mm pistol, 94 ecstasy pills, a credit card in his name, and a digital scale. Because Braziel has prior felony convictions, including a previous conviction for a drive-by shooting in 2005, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Ethen is prosecuting the case.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Blaine man pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of eight firearms as an unlawful user of a controlled substance, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on August 15, 2020, a protest took place at the Minneapolis Police Department’s 5th Precinct building. The event became violent and destructive when individuals began throwing rocks and other objects, breaking windows, firing mortar-type fireworks at the building and at officers stationed on the roof, spray painting the building, and using paint to obscure the video surveillance cameras. After reviewing video surveillance footage, investigators were able to identify Thomas Wilder Moseley, 29, as one of the individuals who was spray painting the front windows of the building. The building sustained several thousand dollars of damages a result of the incident.

According to court documents, on October 15, 2020, Moseley was present inside the Hennepin County Government Center where protesters had gathered during a court appearance for the four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd. Hennepin County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Moseley on probable cause based on his involvement in the August 15 incident. At the time of his arrest, Moseley was carrying a loaded Glock, model 26 Gen5, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol.

According to court documents, following Moseley’s arrest, Minneapolis Police officers executed a search warrant at Moseley’s residence in Blaine, Minnesota, and recovered two firearms, more than 1,400 rounds of ammunition, 96 grams of marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia. Officers also obtained a search warrant for Moseley’s Toyota Tacoma, which was parked in downtown Minneapolis near the Government Center. Among other things, officers recovered from the vehicle five firearms, a large amount of ammunition, a hatchet, a crowbar, gas masks, and controlled substances, including marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, and cocaine.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber M. Brennan.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury convicted a Minneapolis man for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition after a shooting incident that took place in broad daylight, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

Following a four-day trial before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright, Johnnie Lamar Haynes, 33, was convicted of one count of possessing a firearm as a felon and one count of possessing ammunition as a felon.

According to the evidence presented at trial, on August 5, 2019, Minneapolis police officers responded to a shots-fired call at a gas station near Lowry Avenue and Logan Avenue North in Minneapolis. Upon arrival, officers found 11 discharged cartridge casings on the street in front of the gas station. Video surveillance footage showed Haynes interacting with two men inside the gas station. After leaving the gas station the two other men got in a vehicle and drove off. Minutes later, the two men circled the block in their vehicle and returned to the gas station. Haynes then began shooting at the vehicle as it drove off. A nearby business was in the line of Haynes’s gunfire and was struck by multiple rounds. Surveillance video footage from the business captured the bullets entering the building, causing employees to duck and take shelter.

“This defendant discharged a firearm near a busy intersection in broad daylight, showing total disregard for human life,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “This type of brazen gun violence is unacceptable in our communities and must be stopped.”

Because Haynes has prior felony convictions in Hennepin County, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. Haynes faces up to ten years in prison on each count. At sentencing, a federal district court judge will determine the sentence accounting for the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Minneapolis Police Department.

This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Two St. Paul area men involved in a Twin Cities-based mail theft scheme have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the conspiracy.

Sonny Vang Xiong, 32, of Maplewood, and Davis Her, 36, of St. Paul, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of mail. Her also pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The defendants were sentenced to 36 and 78 months in prison, respectively.

According to court documents, from at least August 2020 through November 2020, Xiong and Her conspired with others to steal mail and packages from post offices, apartment complexes, and mailboxes. The defendants broke into apartment buildings and other locations where many mailboxes could be accessed at once to steal personal mail, business mail, packages, and other items. The defendants used stolen postal keys, pry bars, and other burglary tools to steal the mail. The defendants would look for checks, money orders, identification documents, credit and debit cards, and other items of value. Xiong and Her used the stolen checks and money orders to create fraudulent checks and falsified money orders that they gave to others to cash. Xiong and Her also used stolen account numbers, IDs, and personal identifying information to create fake checks and fake identification documents.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud sentenced the defendants.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the St. Paul Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Coon Rapids Police Department, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Croix County (Wisconsin) Sheriff’s Office. United States Secret Service, and the United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Hudleston prosecuted the case.

MINNEAPOLIS – United States District Judge Ann D. Montgomery has issued an order closing the receivership of Thomas J. Petters and discharging the Receiver in one of the nation’s largest and most complex Ponzi schemes. Through the efforts of the Receiver, the United States, and related bankruptcy trustees more than $722 million was distributed to victims and creditors.

In issuing the order, Judge Montgomery remarked that the receivership was “prompted by one of the largest and most complex Ponzi schemes in U.S. history.” Judge Montgomery went on to state that “the primary objective of the Receivership was to preserve assets for victims and creditors…After more than 120 public [court] hearings and nearly 3,300 [case] docket entries, the work of the Receiver has concluded.”

The United States commenced the receivership case in October of 2008 to enjoin the ongoing fraud by Petters and the other named defendants and to preserve all assets owned by the defendants for ultimate restitution and forfeiture in the criminal investigations of the defendants, which were pending at the time.

The United States immediately moved to freeze the assets of the named defendants, including all assets owned by Petters. On October 14, 2008, the Court issued the injunction against Petters and appointed Douglas A. Kelley as the Receiver of the assets of Petters and the other named defendants.  At the time none of the defendants had yet been indicted.

The Receiver immediately began taking control of the assets and property owned by Petters and the other named defendants. Petters and the other defendants had created a vast web of more than 150 entities over the course of thirteen years – entities that were all propped up by fraud. Some of the entities, however, were legitimate businesses that employed innocent persons.

The Receiver placed several of the major entities into bankruptcy, including Sun Country Airlines and Polaroid Corporation, for the protection of innocent employees and creditors. Throughout the receivership, the Receiver also managed real estate, categorized assets, liquidated property, paid employees, commenced claw-back litigation, entered into settlement agreements, and worked in coordination with the bankruptcy and government forfeiture process to achieve an orderly disentanglement of the fraud. 

“Following the criminal conviction of Tom Petters in 2009 for orchestrating a $1.9 billion Ponzi scheme, the work of recovering assets on behalf of victim investors and creditors had just begun,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “Throughout this case the U.S. Attorney’s Office sought to remain transparent, thorough, and persistent in our pursuit of justice. I commend the work of the Receiver and all parties involved in recovering more than $722 million on behalf of victims.”

On December 1, 2008, Petters was indicted on multiple counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy for orchestrating a $1.9 billion Ponzi scheme. On December 2, 2009, a federal jury found Petters guilty of all 20 counts against him, and he was later sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard H. Kyle to 50 years in federal prison. Other defendants were convicted in related criminal proceedings. As part of their sentencing judgments, Petters and other defendants were ordered to forfeit assets obtained through their criminal activity, including real estate, bank, and investment accounts, vehicles, and other assets. Under federal law, the Department of Justice has the authority to distribute the proceeds of forfeited assets through the remission process to victim investors who lost money in connection with the scheme. The proceeds of all forfeited assets are being distributed to victim investors.