Western District of Tennessee

A Missouri woman was arrested this morning on federal charges in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, located in Memphis, Tennessee.

Lisa Jeanine Findley, also known as Lisa Holden, Lisa Howell, Gregory Naussany, Kurt Naussany, Lisa Jeanine Sullins, and Carolyn Williams, 53, of Kimberling City, Missouri, was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today after her arrest. Findley will make her initial appearance later today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland, falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had pledged the historic landmark as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay before her death,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As part of the brazen scheme, we allege that the defendant created numerous false documents and sought to extort a settlement from the Presley family. Now she is facing federal charges. The Criminal Division and its partners are committed to holding fraudsters to account.”

“As a Memphian, I know that Graceland is a national treasure,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “This defendant allegedly used a brazen scheme to try to defraud the Presley family of their interest in this singularly important landmark. Of course, all homeowners deserve to have their property protected from fraud, and the Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who commits financial crimes or identity theft.”

According to court documents, Findley allegedly posed as three different individuals affiliated with a fictitious private lender named Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC (Naussany Investments). Findley allegedly claimed falsely that Elvis Presley’s daughter had borrowed $3.8 million in 2018 from Naussany Investments, pledged Graceland as collateral for the loan, and failed to repay the debt. To settle the purported claim, Findley allegedly sought $2.85 million from Elvis Presley’s family. Findley allegedly fabricated loan documents on which Findley forged the signatures of Elvis Presley’s daughter and a Florida State notary public. Findley then allegedly filed a false creditor’s claim with the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles, and a fake deed of trust with the Shelby County Register’s Office in Memphis. Findley also allegedly published a fraudulent foreclosure notice in The Commercial Appeal, one of Memphis’s daily newspapers, announcing that Naussany Investments planned to auction Graceland to the highest bidder on May 23. Finally, when Naussany Investments was sued by Elvis Presley’s family in Tennessee state court as part of an effort to stop the sale of Graceland, Findley allegedly submitted false court filings.

After the scheme attracted global media attention, Findley allegedly wrote to representatives of Elvis Presley’s family, the Tennessee state court, and the media to claim falsely that the person responsible for the scheme was a Nigerian identity thief located in Nigeria.

“Fame and money are magnets for criminals who look to capitalize on another person’s celebrity status,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “In this case, Ms. Findley allegedly took advantage of the very public and tragic occurrences in the Presley family as an opportunity to prey on the name and financial status of the heirs to the Graceland estate, attempting to steal what rightfully belongs to the Presley family for her personal gain. Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners put an end to her alleged scheme, protecting the Presley family from continued harm and stress. This is an example of our relentless investigative work and commitment to bringing criminals to justice for their illegal activity.”

“Today’s announcement of charges and law enforcement action shows our broad approach to investigating allegations of identity theft and mail fraud, which can affect people from all walks of life,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “We will continue to vigorously pursue cases against individuals, in the United States and abroad, who would steal an identity and use fraud to benefit themselves personally.”

Findley is charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for mail fraud.

USPIS and the FBI Memphis Field Office are investigating the case with significant assistance from the FBI Kansas City Field Office.  

Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

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

Complaint

WASHINGTON – A Missouri woman was arrested this morning on federal charges in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, located in Memphis, Tennessee.

Lisa Jeanine Findley, also known as Lisa Holden, Lisa Howell, Gregory Naussany, Kurt Naussany, Lisa Jeanine Sullins, and Carolyn Williams, 53, of Kimberling City, Missouri, was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today after her arrest. Findley will make her initial appearance later today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland, falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had pledged the historic landmark as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay before her death,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As part of the brazen scheme, we allege that the defendant created numerous false documents and sought to extort a settlement from the Presley family. Now she is facing federal charges. The Criminal Division and its partners are committed to holding fraudsters to account.”

“As a Memphian, I know that Graceland is a national treasure,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “This defendant allegedly used a brazen scheme to try to defraud the Presley family of their interest in this singularly important landmark. Of course, all homeowners deserve to have their property protected from fraud, and the Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who commits financial crimes or identity theft.”

According to court documents, Findley allegedly posed as three different individuals affiliated with a fictitious private lender named Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC (Naussany Investments). Findley allegedly claimed falsely that Elvis Presley’s daughter had borrowed $3.8 million in 2018 from Naussany Investments, pledged Graceland as collateral for the loan, and failed to repay the debt. To settle the purported claim, Findley allegedly sought $2.85 million from Elvis Presley’s family. Findley allegedly fabricated loan documents on which Findley forged the signatures of Elvis Presley’s daughter and a Florida State notary public. Findley then allegedly filed a false creditor’s claim with the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles, and a fake deed of trust with the Shelby County Register’s Office in Memphis. Findley also allegedly published a fraudulent foreclosure notice in The Commercial Appeal, one of Memphis’s daily newspapers, announcing that Naussany Investments planned to auction Graceland to the highest bidder on May 23. Finally, when Naussany Investments was sued by Elvis Presley’s family in Tennessee state court as part of an effort to stop the sale of Graceland, Findley allegedly submitted false court filings.

After the scheme attracted global media attention, Findley allegedly wrote to representatives of Elvis Presley’s family, the Tennessee state court, and the media to claim falsely that the person responsible for the scheme was a Nigerian identity thief located in Nigeria.

“Fame and money are magnets for criminals who look to capitalize on another person’s celebrity status,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “In this case, Ms. Findley allegedly took advantage of the very public and tragic occurrences in the Presley family as an opportunity to prey on the name and financial status of the heirs to the Graceland estate, attempting to steal what rightfully belongs to the Presley family for her personal gain. Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners put an end to her alleged scheme, protecting the Presley family from continued harm and stress. This is an example of our relentless investigative work and commitment to bringing criminals to justice for their illegal activity.”

“Today’s announcement of charges and law enforcement action shows our broad approach to investigating allegations of identity theft and mail fraud, which can affect people from all walks of life,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “We will continue to vigorously pursue cases against individuals, in the United States and abroad, who would steal an identity and use fraud to benefit themselves personally.”

Findley is charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for mail fraud.

USPIS and the FBI Memphis Field Office are investigating the case with significant assistance from the FBI Kansas City Field Office.  

Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

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

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CRM

24-1025

Memphis, TN – Dardanius Coleman, 55, of Memphis, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) designed to provide emergency financial assistance to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. 

United States Attorney Ritz said: “This federal program was designed to lift hardworking citizens and small businesses in a time of need.  Instead, the defendant in this case cheated the program and misused relief funds.  I commend our federal law enforcement partners for helping to bring this defendant to justice.  This office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who defraud COVID-19 relief programs.” 

According to information presented in court, from April 2020 through November 2021, Coleman submitted fraudulent PPP applications for five purported businesses that he controlled.  These applications contained false information and fake documents concerning the number of employees and the amount of payroll related to the purported businesses.  Once Coleman received the loan proceeds, the monies were used for his personal benefit, not for the approved purposes for the funds such as rent or paying his employees.   

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the SBA Office of Inspector General.

“As we’ve seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, criminals will exploit any opportunity to take advantage of programs intended to help businesses and individuals,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of FBI Tennessee. “This sentencing demonstrates the ongoing commitment and dedication of the FBI to work with our partners to aggressively hold individuals accountable who perpetrate fraud against the American people.”

“This sentencing underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of SBA programs,” said SBA – Office of the Inspector General’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge, Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite. “Fraudulent activities undermine the purpose of these essential programs, designed to support legitimate small businesses struggling during the pandemic.  I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to ensuring that those who exploit federal programs are held accountable.” 

Coleman previously entered a guilty plea to a count of wire fraud.  As a part of the sentence imposed, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker also ordered Coleman to pay $2,093,318 in restitution to the SBA and serve a three-year term of supervision after release from custody. 

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tony Arvin, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case. 

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Kendrick Watson, 44, of Memphis, has been sentenced to 540 months in federal prison after being convicted by a federal jury of multiple drug distribution and firearm offenses. Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, law enforcement officers intercepted a package containing cocaine sent from Houston, Texas and set for delivery to Watson’s residence.  After a search of the residence, officers found fentanyl, methamphetamine, drug-distribution materials and proceeds, multiple firearms, ammunition, and gun magazines.  In February 2024, a federal jury found Watson guilty of one count of possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, three counts of possession of a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and three counts of possession of a gun as a convicted felon.

The conviction mandated a 300-month sentence, consecutive to any other sentence, based on Watson’s prior conviction for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.  Watson was also designated as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines due to his prior convictions for a crime of violence and controlled substance offenses in Memphis.  On August 1, 2024, United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Watson to a total of 45 years of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration - Memphis Resident Office and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory Allen and Naya Bedini, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated this case.

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Malik Motley, 25, of Memphis, has been sentenced to 303 months in federal prison after being convicted of a Hobbs Act robbery committed in October 2021.  Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.  

According to the information presented in court, on October 3, 2021, Motley entered a Memphis-area Dollar General store with a black mask covering his face. Instead of paying for items that he placed on the counter, Motley pulled a silver handgun from his pants and demanded money from the register. The cashier was unable to open the cash register, and Motley shot her in the face at point blank range, grabbed items from the counter and fled the store. 

Motley was arrested two days later in an abandoned house. During a search of Motley’s residence, officers located the clothing he wore during the robbery and a silver Smith & Wesson .357 revolver. The gun was loaded with three live rounds of ammunition. 

In October 2023, Motley pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.  On July 20, 2024, United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Motley to 303 months in federal prison for the crimes and ordered him to serve five years of supervised release after his prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Memphis Police Department. 

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.   

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – Jason Daniel Smith, 33, of Gibson County, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison after being convicted of possessing and distributing child sex abuse materials on two separate occasions, once in 2019 and again in 2023.  Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today. 

According to information presented in court, on March 13, 2019, Smith used a filesharing program to distribute more than 150 files of child sex abuse material to an undercover police officer in Indiana. After determining Smith’s address in Milan, TN, the Indiana officers collaborated with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, which executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence and discovered more than 20,000 videos and images of child pornography. Smith was arrested and charged with child pornography crimes in Gibson County Circuit Court. 

On January 24, 2023, while the Gibson County case was pending, Smith again used a filesharing program to distribute more than 100 files of child sex abuse materials, this time to an agent with the Memphis FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The FBI, in collaboration with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, executed another search warrant at Smith’s residence and discovered more than 10,000 images and videos of child pornography. 

In July 2023, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Smith with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography on each occasion, and in February 2024, Smith pled guilty to the offenses. 

On July 29, 2024, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Smith to 188 months imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Smith must also register as a sex offender in any state in which he lives, works, or attends school. 

This case was investigated by the Michigan City Police Department in Indiana, the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Memphis FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. 

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Delery, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.  

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced today that, on July 25, 2024, nine individuals were charged with federal gun and violent crime offenses in West Tennessee. United States Attorney Ritz also reinforced his office’s commitment to federal prosecution of individuals who commit violent crimes, illegally possess machine gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), or commit other federal firearm offenses. 

“Violent crime is not just a threat to physical safety—it is a threat to our citizens’ ability to go about their day-to-day lives,” said United States Attorney Ritz.  “The citizens of Memphis deserve to feel safe, and that’s why there is no higher priority for my office than reducing violent crime in our city.  Our prosecutors will continue to work with law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who violate federal firearm laws.” 

The following defendants were charged with federal crimes involving switches: 

• Kaderion Stokes, 19. Stokes was previously charged with stealing guns from a federally licensed firearms dealer and possession of stolen firearms.  In a superseding indictment on July 25, 2024, Stokes was also charged with possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.  

• Keelon Shields, 28. Shields was indicted on July 25, 2024, on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.  

• Jamario Bobo, 21. Bobo was indicted on July 25, 2024, on one count of possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.  

• Jarvis Clayborn, 25. Clayborn was indicted on July 25, 2024, on one count of possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.  

The following defendants were charged with other firearm or violent crime offenses: 

• Davonte Vortis, 26. Vortis was indicted on July 25, 2024, for committing an armed carjacking and an armed business robbery, both on August 31, 2023.  He is charged with one count of carjacking, one count of robbery of a business in interstate commerce, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to these crimes. 

• Michael Kelly, 27. Kelly was indicted on July 25, 2024, for committing an armed carjacking and illegally possessing a firearm on January 16, 2022.  He is charged with one count of carjacking, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the carjacking, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

• Markel Strong, 28. Strong was indicted on July 25, 2024, on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, after having been previously convicted of three serious drug offenses or violent felonies.  

• Turante Nunn, 32. Nunn was indicted on July 25, 2024, on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, after having been previously convicted of three serious drug offenses or violent felonies.  

• Demetrius Williams, 28. Williams was indicted on July 25, 2024, on two counts of possessing stolen firearms.  The indictment alleges Williams possessed a total of 21 stolen firearms. 

These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force; the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force; and the Memphis Police Department.  Anyone with information about switches or other federal gun crimes can call 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). 

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.  If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. 

These indictments are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, using data-driven methods to set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked the Assistant United States Attorneys who are prosecuting these cases, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the cases.  

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – The last of fourteen members of the Traveling Vice Lords/Junk Yard Dogs (TVL/JYD) street gang, convicted of crimes under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, has been sentenced in federal court.  Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today. 

According to information presented in court, the TVL/JYD is a violent criminal street gang that operates throughout the Western District of Tennessee.  A subset of Chicago’s Almighty Vice Lord Nation, the gang participated in a series of attempted murders and murders of rival gang members during a gang war in the summer of 2020.  The shootings spanned five different crime scenes across Fayette and Hardeman Counties. 

“These defendants were members of a violent gang who threatened the safety and security of communities throughout West Tennessee,” said United States Attorney Ritz.  “Now they will be serving significant time—in some cases, life—in federal prison.  This office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to bring gang members and trigger-pullers to justice.” 

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch stated, “Our agency is dedicated to investigating and pursuing violent gang members and restoring safety and peace.  I want to commend the justice system’s commitment to curbing gang violence by sending a strong message that such heinous acts won’t be tolerated.  We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to combat violent crime across the great State of Tennessee.”

Three of the gang members, Tomarcus Baskerville, Courtland Springfield, and Thomas Smith, were convicted by a federal jury of RICO offenses on February 9, 2024.  Eleven other TVL/JYD members pled guilty to RICO offenses in 2023.  United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced the defendants as follows: 

Defendant

Age

Sentence

Tomarcus “TC” Baskerville

35

960 months to be followed by life imprisonment

Courtland “Hotbox” Springfield

32

480 months to be followed by life imprisonment

Montaveen “CGE Tay” Taylor

26

420 months

Martivus “Tavis” Baskerville

30

324 months

Deandra “Dre” Rivers

28

262 months

Thomas “TJ” Smith

25

255 months

Trevin “Scooter” Hullom

31

216 months

Bianca Jackson

23

188 months

Curtis “CB” Baskerville

38

180 months

Mardarius McNeal

26

135 months

Christopher “Lil Chris” Peeler

32

120 months

Davaius “Mighty Shun” Worrles

31

66 months

Deonte “Tez” Walker

32

41 months

Torrance “Phat” Fitzpatrick

29

31 months

There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Fayette County Sheriff’s Office; Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office; Whiteville Police Department; and Somerville Police Department. 

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Neal Oldham, William Bateman, Beth Boswell, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Raven Icaza, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.  Additionally, he thanked District Attorney General Mark Davidson and the 25th Judicial District for their assistance in the prosecution.

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

 

Memphis, TN – A federal jury recently returned a guilty verdict in the case of a previously-convicted sex offender accused of child pornography offenses. Jarrod Sanford, 43, of Covington, was found guilty of production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and committing a felony offense against a minor while required to register as a sex offender. Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

According to information presented at trial, between July and November of 2023, Jarrod Sanford used a cell phone to take photographs of himself raping a 13-year-old child. On November 19, 2023, deputies with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report about the rape of a child and recovered a phone from Sanford’s residence.

Agents with the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force were able to bypass the phone’s encryption and discovered photographs that Sanford had taken during a prior rape of the child. Sanford’s DNA matched DNA samples taken from the child victim after the November rape.  Sanford had previously been convicted of a sex offense, and he was on federal supervised release and the Tennessee sex offender registry at the time he committed the charged offenses.

A federal grand jury indicted Sanford for the child pornography and registry offenses in February 2024.  On July 25, 2024, after a four-day trial, federal jurors convicted Jarrod Sanford as charged.

As a result of this conviction, Sanford is facing a sentence of 35 to 70 years imprisonment. Sanford faces an additional sentence of up to five years imprisonment for violation of his supervised release. A sentencing hearing before United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker is set for Thursday, October 31, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Probation Office for the Western District of Tennessee, and the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office.

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Delery and Lynn Crum, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.   

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Three Memphis men have been sentenced to a total of 66 years in federal prison after being convicted of three carjackings and three business robberies that occurred in the spring of 2022.  Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.

According to the information presented in court, Jermiah Jones, 24, Kevontae Harper, 22, and James Payne, 21, participated in a crime spree that included three carjackings and a series of armed robberies of Memphis businesses.  All three men pled guilty to three counts of carjacking, three counts of business robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. 

United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Harper to 25 years of imprisonment on February 14, 2024; Payne to 15 years of imprisonment on March 1, 2024; and Jones to 26 years of imprisonment on July 17, 2024.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force, a collective comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel.

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Rogers and Jermal Blanchard, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated this case.

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Willie Williams, Jr., also known as Willie Gary, 56, of Memphis, was sentenced to 104 months in federal prison in connection with a years-long scheme of filing false applications for SNAP benefits and then selling them to members of the community. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. 

According to information presented in court, from May 2020 through July 2023, Williams used the personally identifiable information of over 100 people to fraudulently obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low and middle income families buy food, thus reducing hunger. Williams previously entered a guilty plea to Aggravated Identity Theft and Food Stamp Fraud. 

As a part of the sentence imposed, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman also ordered Williams to pay $626,906 in restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture - Food and Nutrition Services and serve a three-year term of supervision after release from custody. 

This case was jointly investigated by the Special Investigations Unit of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General; and the United States Postal Inspection Service. 

United States Attorney Ritz said: “This defendant used other people’s identities to commit fraud on an important federal program.  I deeply appreciate our federal and state partners for their work on this important prosecution.  Our office will continue to use all the tools available to us to bring fraudsters to justice.” 

“We are grateful for the partnerships with USDA/OIG, U.S. Postal Inspectors, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their guidance and assistance in pursuing prosecution of this SNAP Fraud case.  TDHS-OIG continues to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in our public assistance programs, so that eligible recipients are protected,” said Richard Carr, Program Integrity Director for the TDHS’s Office of Inspector General. 

“The United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, actively investigates allegations of fraud in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).  This investigation serves as a warning to all individuals that SNAP Fraud and Identity Theft will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by the USDA-OIG, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and all its federal, state, and local partners that have a stake in ensuring that fraud is eliminated from taxpayer-funded programs,” said Miles Davis, Special Agent-in-Charge for USDA’s Office of Inspector General. 

“This defendant used the U.S. Mail to take advantage of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is a program developed to help families in need.  This sentence will send a message that these crimes are serious and that our agency will continue to work to ensure these criminals are held accountable for their actions,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge for the United States Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. 

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III and former Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Lewis, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.  

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently sentenced Desmond Woods, 43, of Memphis to over 17 years in federal prison for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. 

According to court documents, in October 2020, Woods was stopped by security guards at a local apartment complex for loitering. Upon detaining Woods and searching his belongings, the guards found a Glock 22 caliber pistol, approximately 17 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale. Woods was arrested by the Memphis Police Department (MPD).

In a second incident, in July 2021, security guards at a different apartment complex attempted to contact Woods, again, for loitering.  After a brief chase, the guards detained Woods, searched him, and found an API .45 caliber pistol, a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, approximately 61 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale.

In a third incident, Memphis Police officers responded in June 2022 to an emergency call involving Woods and found him in possession of a Del-ton 5.56 caliber rifle loaded with 50 rounds. Woods was a convicted felon at the time of the incident.

Woods pled guilty in March 2024 to three counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of cocaine possession with intent to distribute, and two counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a dangerous felony. 

United States Chief District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Woods on July 18, 2024, to a total of 207 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

This case was investigated for federal prosecution by the PSN Gun Task Force and the Memphis Police Department.

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jermal Blanchard, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.  

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A Memphis man has been sentenced to 210 years in federal prison after being convicted of eight business robberies and one attempted business robbery that occurred in the summer of 2022.  Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, on March 7, 2022, Marchello Moore, 43, escaped from a halfway house and set off on a series of armed robberies of local businesses. After a six-day federal jury trial in February 2024, Moore was convicted of eight counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and eight counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Moore had previously pled guilty to escaping from federal custody from the halfway house where he had been serving a prior federal sentence for business and bank robberies committed in 2014. 

On July 17, 2024, United States District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Moore to 210 years of imprisonment, which included a mandatory minimum of 200 years because of the nature of the convictions and Moore’s criminal history.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force, a collective comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel. 

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Rogers and Eileen Kuo, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated this case.

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging 15 Memphis, Tennessee, residents for their involvement in an organized drug trafficking scheme. 

According to court documents, between November 2023 and June 2024, the defendants allegedly worked together, and with others, to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana throughout the Memphis area. During the investigation, agents recovered two stolen vehicles and seized 29 firearms, five machinegun conversion devices (known as “switches”), over $4,000 in cash, approximately 938 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 541 grams of fentanyl, approximately 200 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and 26.43 pounds of marijuana.

The indictment charges the following 15 defendants:

Defendant

Age

Charges

Brian Lackland

34

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, over 500 grams of methamphetamine, and marijuana; possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes; and being a felon in possession of firearms

Paul Nelson

31

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of methamphetamine; and being a felon in possession of firearms

Ebony Cobb

41

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of methamphetamine

Jerrod Cox

31

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Darius Moore

38

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Edgar Smith

38

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Mervin Anderson

38

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Courtney Davis

28

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Timothy Achols

36

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Jehu Cruz

23

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl; and possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes

Mohamed Samba

24

Conspiracy to distribute marijuana; and possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes

Prentiss Broadway

33

Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl

Braxton Beck

32

Federal firearms offenses and being a felon in possession of firearms

Darion Allen

28

Federal firearms offenses and being a felon in possession of firearms

Delifarroe Goins

29

Federal firearms offenses and being a felon in possession of firearms

If convicted, the defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and defendants charged with distributing methamphetamine face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl face a mandatory minimum of five years or 10 years in prison, depending on the amount distributed, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The defendants charged with possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); FBI; U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Multi-Agency Gang Unit; Memphis Police Department; Bartlett Police Department; and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Amanda Kotula and Aaron Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

This case is brought as part of the Criminal Division’s Memphis Violent Crime Initiative, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in Memphis. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime. 

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

MEMPHIS, TN - A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging 15 Memphis, Tennessee, residents for their involvement in an organized drug trafficking scheme. 

According to court documents, between November 2023 and June 2024, the defendants allegedly worked together, and with others, to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana throughout the Memphis area. During the investigation, agents recovered two stolen vehicles and seized 29 firearms, five machinegun conversion devices (known as “switches”), over $4,000 in cash, approximately 938 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 541 grams of fentanyl, approximately 200 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and 26.43 pounds of marijuana.

The indictment charges the following 15 defendants:

Defendant

Age

Charges

Brian Lackland

34

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, over 500 grams of methamphetamine, and marijuana; possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes; and being a felon in possession of firearms

Paul Nelson

31

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of methamphetamine; and being a felon in possession of firearms

Ebony Cobb

41

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of methamphetamine

Jerrod Cox

31

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Darius Moore

38

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Edgar Smith

38

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Mervin Anderson

38

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Courtney Davis

28

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Timothy Achols

36

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Jehu Cruz

23

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl; and possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes

Mohamed Samba

24

Conspiracy to distribute marijuana; and possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes

Prentiss Broadway

33

Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl

Braxton Beck

32

Federal firearms offenses and being a felon in possession of firearms

Darion Allen

28

Federal firearms offenses and being a felon in possession of firearms

Delifarroe Goins

29

Federal firearms offenses and being a felon in possession of firearms

If convicted, the defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and defendants charged with distributing methamphetamine face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl face a mandatory minimum of five years or 10 years in prison, depending on the amount distributed, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The defendants charged with possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); FBI; U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Multi-Agency Gang Unit; Memphis Police Department; Bartlett Police Department; and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Amanda Kotula and Aaron Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

This case is brought as part of the Criminal Division’s Memphis Violent Crime Initiative, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in Memphis. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime. 

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

Updated July 10, 2024

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Topic

VIOLENT CRIME

Components

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) 

Criminal Division 

Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 

USAO - Tennessee, Western

Press Release Number: 24-864 

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Memphis, TN – A pair of Texas residents have been sentenced to federal prison resulting from their involvement in a counterfeit prescription drug distribution operation involving methamphetamine and counterfeit Adderall to various locations within the United States, including Western Tennessee.  Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencings today.

Winrose Ndichu, 33, was convicted of aiding and abetting the structuring of financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, and Eric Bernard Russell, Jr., 39, was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Kevin Olando Ombisi, 35, was previously sentenced to 210 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution and attempted distribution of methamphetamine, sale of counterfeit Adderall, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and mail fraud.

According to information presented in Court, in November 2019, law enforcement began conducting undercover buys of purported Adderall from a vendor known as CARDINGMASTER on the Darknet.  CARDINGMASTER advertised “100% AUTHENTIC Adderall Brand 30 mg” pills for sale.  Narcotics sold by CARDINGMASTER were shipped from Texas to the Western District of Tennessee in exchange for Bitcoin cryptocurrency.  Although the drugs appeared consistent with what was advertised for sale (amphetamine-based prescription Adderall), laboratory testing indicated that the drugs received did not contain the active pharmaceutical ingredient contained in Adderall, but in fact contained the Schedule II controlled substance methamphetamine.

A financial investigation revealed that proceeds from these sales were funneled through fictitious businesses, various bank accounts, and in the form of cryptocurrency in an effort to conceal the unlawful nature of the source of these proceeds. These transactions were directed by Ombisi and conducted by Ndichu. In a span of one year, Ndichu withdrew more than $250,000 from these accounts in increments of less than $10,000 to avoid federal reporting requirements, knowing that these funds were proceeds of unlawful activity or intended to promote the unlawful activity.

United States District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Russell to 42 months of imprisonment on March 28, 2024. On June 27, 2024, Judge Norris sentenced Ndichu to 18 months of imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Nashville Field Division; the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation (FDA-OCI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), El Paso; the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and our local law enforcement partners.

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks, who prosecuted this case, as well as our law enforcement partners who investigated this case.

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A Tennessee podiatrist was sentenced today to four years in prison for a scheme to defraud Medicare and TennCare, a Medicaid program administered by the State of Tennessee, by prescribing and dispensing medically unnecessary foot bath medications and obtaining millions of dollars in reimbursements.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nathan Lucas, D.P.M., 59, of Memphis, owned and operated a podiatry clinic and two pharmacies. Lucas regularly prescribed antibiotic and antifungal drugs to be mixed into a tub of water for patients to soak their feet. These drug cocktails included capsules, creams, and powders that were not indicated to be dissolved in water and some of which were not even water soluble. Lucas chose these medications to prescribe and dispense based on their anticipated reimbursement amount, rather than medical necessity. From October 2018 through September 2021, Lucas caused his pharmacies to submit nearly $4 million in claims to Medicare and TennCare for dispensing expensive foot bath medications that were not medically necessary and not eligible for reimbursement, for which Lucas’s pharmacies were reimbursed over $3 million.

A federal jury convicted Lucas on March 18 of five counts of health care fraud.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.

HHS-OIG and TBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter and Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Updated June 27, 2024

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Topic

HEALTH CARE FRAUD

Components

Criminal Division 

Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section 

USAO - Tennessee, Western

Press Release Number: 24-826

A Tennessee podiatrist was sentenced today to four years in prison for a scheme to defraud Medicare and TennCare, a Medicaid program administered by the State of Tennessee, by prescribing and dispensing medically unnecessary foot bath medications and obtaining millions of dollars in reimbursements.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nathan Lucas, D.P.M., 59, of Memphis, owned and operated a podiatry clinic and two pharmacies. Lucas regularly prescribed antibiotic and antifungal drugs to be mixed into a tub of water for patients to soak their feet. These drug cocktails included capsules, creams, and powders that were not indicated to be dissolved in water and some of which were not even water soluble. Lucas chose these medications to prescribe and dispense based on their anticipated reimbursement amount, rather than medical necessity. From October 2018 through September 2021, Lucas caused his pharmacies to submit nearly $4 million in claims to Medicare and TennCare for dispensing expensive foot bath medications that were not medically necessary and not eligible for reimbursement, for which Lucas’s pharmacies were reimbursed over $3 million.

A federal jury convicted Lucas on March 18 of five counts of health care fraud.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.

HHS-OIG and TBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter and Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced a Benton County man to over 23 years in federal prison for committing new firearm offenses while being on supervised release for a prior federal firearm sentence.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. 

According to information presented in court, Jason Autry, 49, who was a 16-time convicted felon, was in possession of a rifle, a handgun, and ammunition on December 3, 2020.  Autry was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm arising out of a Decatur County, Tennessee incident that occurred on January 15, 2012. He was released to a federal supervised release term of three years on September 16, 2020. 

Autry’s eight-year state prison sentence for Solicitation of First-Degree Murder and Facilitation of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping also expired on September 16, 2020.  These convictions resulted from Autry’s role in the kidnapping and murder of Holly Bobo, a Decatur County nursing student, on April 13, 2011. Bobo’s body was found over three years later.

It was presented in court that approximately 25 days after the beginning of his supervised release term, Autry had possession of a Smith and Wesson, Model M&P shield, 9mm caliber pistol, which he had stolen.  He was in possession of a Marlin, 30-30 caliber rifle and ammunition within 78 days of his release.

On November 22, 2022, Autry pled guilty to three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  On June 24, 2024, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Autry to a total of 279 months in federal prison for the firearm violations and the supervised release violation.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated for federal prosecution by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Benton County Sheriff’s Department. 

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Beth Boswell, Josh Morrow and Naya Bedini, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.  

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 For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

 

Memphis, TN – Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, joins national, state, and local leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2024. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.

Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Ritz emphasized the importance of awareness and education.

United States Attorney Ritz said: “My office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, including by financial exploitation.  To protect those at risk, we need citizens’ help.  Check in on older adults who may have few friends and family members and report any suspected abuse to law enforcement authorities.”

Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.

The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.

Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.

To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.

To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.

To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI's IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates. 

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz today announced the recent indictments of nine individuals charged in federal court for violations of federal gun laws. United States Attorney Ritz also reinforced his commitment to federal prosecution of individuals who illegally possess machine gun conversion devices (also known as “switches” or “auto sears”) and who commit other federal firearm offenses. 

“Our citizens deserve to feel safe in their city, and that’s why there is no higher priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office than reducing violent crime in Memphis,” said United States Attorney Ritz.  “As these recent indictments show, federal authorities in the Memphis area are vigorously enforcing federal firearms laws, including the laws prohibiting highly dangerous machine gun conversion devices.  Those individuals who are driving the violence in our city will face significant federal penalties where the evidence establishes violations of federal law.”

Among the indictments returned by the federal grand jury in Memphis are a multi-count indictment charging a convicted felon with possession of firearms, one of which was converted to a machine gun with a conversion device, commonly known as a “switch”. Wayne Sanders, 31, of Memphis, Tennessee was indicted on June 11, 2024, after a federal criminal complaint was filed against him on April 24, 2024.

The indictment alleges that on or about February 24, 2024, Sanders possessed a Romarm Cugir 7.62 caliber pistol; a Glock .45 caliber pistol; and a Glock 9mm caliber pistol, which had been converted to a machine gun.  If convicted of these offenses, Sanders faces up to fifteen years of imprisonment.

According to information presented in court, the United States Marshal Service Task Force Officers attempted to arrest Sanders pursuant to an arrest warrant based on the criminal complaint when Sanders pointed another illegally possessed firearm at one of the task force officers before fleeing.  Officers recovered the firearm, and Sanders was subsequently arrested without further incident.

The following defendants were also charged with federal crimes involving switches:

• Jeremy Walker, 32. Walker was indicted on March 12, 2024, for drug and gun crimes, including possessing a firearm with a switch. 

• Leon Moore, 26. Moore was indicted on May 30, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun. 

• Camron Taylor, 21. Taylor was indicted on May 30, 2024, for possessing a machine gun. 

• Montez Carr, 20. Carr was indicted on May 30, 2024, for possessing a machine gun. 

The following defendants were charged with other firearm or violent crime related offenses:

• Jocquel Williams, 28. Williams was indicted on May 30, 2024, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. 

• Al Kendrick Malone, 22. Malone was indicted on May 30, 2024, for carjacking and for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. 

• Cedric Arnold, 35. Arnold was indicted on May 30, 2024, for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition. 

• Jartavius Lewis, 20. Lewis was indicted on May 30, 2024, for possessing a machine gun. 

These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Gun Task Force. Anyone with information about switches or other federal gun crimes can call 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867).

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.  If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

These indictments are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles:  fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, using data-driven methods to set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

 

Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced a Memphis man to 466 months – more than 38 years – in federal prison for committing two carjackings and firearms offenses in the Memphis area.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. 

According to information presented in court, Glenn Miller, 29, committed two back-to-back carjackings in Memphis on June 8, 2022.  First, Miller approached a man at a gas station on Chelsea Avenue and forced the victim to get into his vehicle at gunpoint. Miller continued to hold a gun on the victim and made him drive around until Miller eventually ordered the victim out of the vehicle.  Miller drove away in the victim’s car. 

Minutes later, Miller approached another man sitting in his car on Maplewood Avenue; this was around the corner from the gas station where Miller carjacked the first victim. Completely unprovoked, Miller fired two rounds at the second victim, striking the victim in the face.  The second victim was severely injured but survived.  Miller drove off in the second victim’s car and was apprehended later that day by the Memphis Police Department.  Miller was in possession of three firearms when he was arrested. 

United States Attorney Ritz stated: “Armed carjackings tear at the fabric of our society.  This defendant will spend more than 38 years in federal prison for committing multiple armed carjackings.  Our office will continue to seek justice for victims of violent crime by holding offenders accountable for their actions.” 

“ATF is on the frontline in the fight against violent crime and will continue to work side-by-side with our partners.  Carjacking investigations are a priority.  Therefore, ATF will continue to deploy traditional investigative techniques overlayed with cutting edge technology to deter these types of violent activities,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus S. Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 

On November 17, 2023, Miller pled guilty to carjacking the second victim and discharging a firearm during that carjacking, as well as three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Miller proceeded to trial by a jury on the remaining charges related to the carjacking of the first victim and the brandishing of a firearm during that carjacking.  On February 27, 2024, a federal jury convicted Miller of the counts related to the first carjacking after less than an hour of deliberation. 

On June 12, 2024, United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Miller to 466 months in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Memphis Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit. 

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Regina Thompson and Greg Wagner, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently sentenced a Memphis man to over 17 years in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute it.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. 

According to court documents, in December 2021, Charlie Gibson was stopped by security guards at a local apartment complex for loitering. Upon detaining Gibson and searching his belongings, the guards found a Glock .40 caliber pistol, approximately 250 grams of marijuana, and three digital scales. The guards called the Memphis Police Department, who came and arrested Gibson.

In July 2022, Shelby County deputies responded to an assault call in Cordova, Tennessee and were told that the suspect was driving a gray Nissan.  The deputies found the gray Nissan, and then saw a man, later identified as Gibson, quickly get into it. A deputy stood in front of the car and ordered Gibson to stop.  Gibson refused and drove forward, striking the deputy who rolled onto the hood of the vehicle. The deputy drew his service weapon and ordered Gibson to stop again, but Gibson instead revved the engine. The deputy then fired several rounds through the windshield, striking Gibson, who crashed the vehicle shortly thereafter. Deputies at the scene rendered lifesaving aid to Gibson. Law enforcement later found a Glock .40 caliber pistol on the driver’s side floorboard of Gibson’s vehicle.

Charges from both incidents were combined into a superseding indictment in November 2023.  After a two-day trial in February 2024, federal jurors found Gibson guilty of two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, one count of marijuana possession with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of a firearm during commission of a dangerous felony. 

United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Gibson on June 11, 2024, to a total of 210 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

This case was investigated for federal prosecution by the PSN Gun Task Force, Memphis Police Department, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. 

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Jermal Blanchard and Greg Wagner, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.  

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee recently returned a multi-count indictment charging four men with conspiracy to commit bank robberies, and the commission of six bank robberies in the Memphis area.  Robert Haley, 44, Devin Hinds, 34, Courtney Trenell, 32, and Monterrio Trenell, 28, were all indicted by a federal grand jury in April.  All four men have been arrested.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the unsealing of the indictment today. 

The four men are charged in connection with the robberies of: 

• First Horizon Bank, N. Watkins Street, on April 27, 2023
• Truist Bank, Poplar Avenue, on August 11, 2023
• First Horizon Bank, N. Germantown Parkway, on October 20, 2023
• Bank of Bartlett, Trinity Road, on October 20, 2023
• First Horizon Bank, N. Watkins Street, on October 25, 2023
• Independent Bank, Union Avenue, on December 22, 2023 

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz said: “The alleged crimes in this indictment are serious, and they carry serious penalties.  Our office will continue to work with law enforcement partners to double down on fighting violent crime with the federal tools available to us.”

“These indictments are a testament to the collaborative efforts between all levels of law enforcement to bring to justice those who perpetrate crimes in our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “It is the shared resolve of the FBI and our partners to keep our community safe and to continue to pursue those who commit crimes.” 

If convicted on all counts, Hinds and Haley are facing sentences of up to life in prison and up to five years of supervised release; Courtney Trenell and Montarrio Trenell face sentences of five years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. All defendants face up to a $250,000 fine. This case is pending before Senior United States District Judge Jon P. McCalla in Memphis, Tennessee.  

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Memphis Police Department. Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-2274.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Aaron Henricks with the Violent Crime Initiative are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.  

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

 

Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently resentenced a Memphis man to 20 years in federal prison for the attempted robbery of a Boost Mobile store in December 2017.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. 

According to information presented in court, on December 8, 2017, Lamar Clancy, 31, and another man entered a Boost Mobile store, armed with guns and wearing ski masks.  They immediately pointed their weapons at the three employees behind the counter, stating, “You know what time it is.", before opening fire at the employees.  Two of the employees returned fire. 

During the shooting, a third, unarmed employee was shot in the knee.  The shooting also endangered a customer and three minor children who had been waiting in a vehicle in the parking lot.  After the shooting, Clancy and his accomplice fled the scene.  

On May 2, 2019, after a jury trial, Clancy was found guilty of attempted robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of that attempted robbery; he was originally sentenced in November 2019.  Due to changes in the law which went into effect in 2022, Clancy’s firearm conviction was vacated, and the district court scheduled a resentencing hearing.   At that hearing, United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Clancy to 240 months incarceration with the Bureau of Prisons, followed by 3 years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Memphis Police Department.

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Naya Bedini, who prosecuted this case at the resentencing hearing, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently sentenced a Memphis man to 12 years in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and methamphetamine. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. 

According to information presented in court, on October 27, 2022, Memphis Police Department observed a black Dodge Charger driven by Jeffery Cervero, 27, in the parking lot of the Boulevard Apartments in the Hickory Hill community. The Dodge Charger was stolen, and it was bearing tags registered to a second vehicle previously stolen from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Officers pulled in front of the Dodge Charger, but Cervero sped away. He was quickly disabled after he struck a MPD vehicle and a large rock.  

Cervero ran away from the vehicle but was caught after a brief foot pursuit. In Cervero’s pants, officers located a Glock 9mm pistol equipped with a Glock switch. In the vehicle, officers recovered a backpack with 46 grams of actual methamphetamine, digital scales, and assorted pills. MPD also located $14,432 in cash, approximately 4.3 kg of vacuum sealed marijuana, a Glock 9mm, a Glock .45, a 5.56 caliber rifle, 5 iPhones, and Cervero’s ID in the stolen vehicle. One of the passengers was also apprehended attempting to run from the disabled vehicle. 

On May 15, 2024, Cervero pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, and possession of a Glock 9mm in furtherance of drug trafficking and was sentenced. United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Cervero to 144 months incarceration with the Bureau of Prisons, followed by 4 years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives - Memphis Office and the Memphis Police Department.  The Drug Enforcement Administration - Memphis Office and Nashville Laboratory, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and ATF Oklahoma provided additional assistance.

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Gregory D. Allen, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Dantoni Colbert, 35, and Edward Matthews, Jr., 33, pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit arson, and arson of three separate tax service businesses. The arson crimes occurred in Memphis in February 2023. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the guilty pleas today. 

According to the information presented in court, on February 6 and 7, 2023, Colbert and Matthews conspired to set fire to three different buildings that were occupied by Washington Tax Services in the Memphis area.   

On February 8, 2024, Matthews pled guilty to all four counts of the indictment before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker.  On May 15, 2024, Colbert also pled guilty as charged to all four counts before Judge Parker. 

Both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum of up to 20 years in federal prison, plus up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

United States Attorney Ritz stated: “Arson is a dangerous crime that threatens the safety of the community—and in particular, the safety of first responders in our city.  Individuals who commit arson of businesses in West Tennessee will continue to get the full attention of law enforcement.” 

“The criminal act of arson poses an unnecessary risk to the citizens and the first responders of the city of Memphis as well as having a negative impact on the financial systems of the community,” said ATF Nashville Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.  “Arson is used to intimidate, harm, or for criminal profit through fraudulent insurance proceeds.  ATF is committed to protecting the public and will continue to vigorously investigate these criminal acts.” 

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Wagner and Stephen Hall, who are prosecuting this case, as well as law enforcement partners investigating the case.   

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates

Memphis, TN — In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024. 

“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.  “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most.  Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them.  The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz stated: “In my almost two decades as a federal prosecutor, I have had the honor of working hand-in-hand with the law enforcement officers who keep us safe.  I have also visited with the families of those officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the people of West Tennessee.  The bravery and dedication of these officers inspire me every day.  On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I extend our deepest gratitude to the women and men in law enforcement who risk their lives to protect us.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.  

Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.

On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.

To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.

Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee recently returned a multi-count indictment charging a registered sex offender, Markettus Lorenzo Broyld, 47, of Jackson, Tennessee, with new federal child exploitation offenses.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the return of the indictment today.

Broyld is charged with production of child pornography, coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt and possession of child pornography, and commission of a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender.  These charges are related to Broyld’s interactions with a minor in the Jackson area in and around December 2022.

According to the indictment, Broyld engaged in electronic communications with a minor.  During these communications, Broyld allegedly asked the minor to take and send sexually explicit photographs and videos, and the minor complied with that request.  Also according to the indictment, Broyld engaged in the possession of child pornographic photographs and videos on his cell phone.  Broyld is a convicted sex offender and was required to register under the sex offender registry in the state of Tennessee when these alleged offenses occurred.

If convicted on all counts, Broyld is facing a sentence of up to life in prison.  This case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson, Tennessee with a trial date of October 15, 2024.  If Broyld is convicted of the charges, Judge Anderson will determine the sentence to impose on the defendant after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force and the Jackson Police Department.  Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact FBI Task Force Officer Aubrey Richardson.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in Jackson, Tennessee recently returned an indictment charging Philip Stephen Plyler, 41, of Fairmont, West Virginia with federal child exploitation offenses.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the return of the indictment today.

Plyler is charged in a two-count indictment with transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent that the minor engage in illegal sexual activity and with traveling in interstate commerce with the motivating purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with the minor. 

If convicted of both charges, Plyler is facing a sentence of up to life in prison.  This case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson, Tennessee.  If Plyler is convicted of the charged offenses, Judge Anderson will determine the sentence to impose on the defendant after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force and the Milan, Tennessee Police Department.  Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact FBI Task Force Officer Dennis Mitchell.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

Assistant United States Attorneys Josh Morrow and Christie Hopper are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in Jackson, Tennessee recently returned an indictment charging a Jackson man with federal child exploitation offenses and extortion.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the return of the indictment today.

According to information presented in court, Peter Anthony Pappas, 40, has been indicted for using deception to manipulate several minors into providing him with confidential information which he used for fraudulent purposes.  Specifically, Pappas used the information to gain unauthorized access to online accounts belonging to the minor victims – including social media, cloud storage, and email accounts.  Pappas then used the information obtained from those accounts to both exploit the victims and to target new victims.  Pappas’s goal was to obtain sexually explicit images and/or videos from the victims, many of whom he knew were minor children.

Pappas is charged with four counts of distribution of child pornography, four counts of transferring obscene matter to a minor, two counts of attempted production of child pornography, two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of extortion by interstate communications, and one count of possessing child pornography.

If convicted on all counts, Pappas is facing a sentence of up to life in prison.  This case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson, Tennessee.  If Pappas is convicted of the charges, Judge Anderson will determine the sentence to impose on the defendant after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force.  Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact Special Agent Eric McCraw at the FBI Memphis-Jackson Resident Agency.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact Tjuana Holmes at (901) 544-4231 or Tjuana.Holmes@usdoj.gov.  Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on Twitter at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in Jackson, Tennessee recently returned an indictment charging a Henry County man with federal child exploitation offenses.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the return of the indictment today.

Levi Edward Hamilton, 22, of Mansfield, Tennessee, was indicted for soliciting sexually explicit images and videos from several individuals, including minor children, through interstate commerce, such as the internet and the use of social media accounts.

Hamilton is charged with five counts of production of child pornography, five counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, five counts of receipt of child pornography, three counts of transferring obscene matter to a minor, and one count of possessing child pornography.

If convicted on all counts, Hamilton is facing a sentence of up to life in prison.  This case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson, Tennessee.  If Hamilton is convicted of the charged offenses, Judge Anderson will determine the sentence to impose on the defendant after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.  Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact Special Agent Eric McCraw at the FBI Memphis-Jackson Resident Agency, or Lieutenant David Andrews at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact Tjuana Holmes at (901) 544-4231 or Tjuana.Holmes@usdoj.gov.  Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on Twitter at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an eight-count indictment today charging former Memphis Police Officer Patric J. Ferguson with federal civil rights, kidnapping and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal shooting of a victim identified as R.H. The indictment also charges Ferguson and a civilian, Joshua M. Rogers, with federal offenses for conspiring to cover up the fatal shooting and destroying evidence of the crimes. The indictment further charges Rogers with accessory after the fact for helping Ferguson cover up his crimes.

The indictment alleges that, on or about Jan. 5, 2021, Ferguson, while on duty as a Memphis Police Department officer, kidnapped and shot R.H. in the head, resulting in R.H.’s death. Ferguson then allegedly conspired with Rogers to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of R.H.’s body in the Wolf River in Memphis. The indictment further alleges that Rogers disposed of the car used to transport R.H.’s body by selling the car at a scrap metal dealership.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Memphis Field Office and Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

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

Updated May 8, 2024

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Topic

CIVIL RIGHTS

Components

Civil Rights Division 

Civil Rights - Criminal Section 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 

USAO - Tennessee, Western

Press Release Number: 24-589

A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an eight-count indictment today charging former Memphis Police Officer Patric J. Ferguson with federal civil rights, kidnapping and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal shooting of a victim identified as R.H. The indictment also charges Ferguson and a civilian, Joshua M. Rogers, with federal offenses for conspiring to cover up the fatal shooting and destroying evidence of the crimes. The indictment further charges Rogers with accessory after the fact for helping Ferguson cover up his crimes.

The indictment alleges that, on or about Jan. 5, 2021, Ferguson, while on duty as a Memphis Police Department officer, kidnapped and shot R.H. in the head, resulting in R.H.’s death. Ferguson then allegedly conspired with Rogers to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of R.H.’s body in the Wolf River in Memphis. The indictment further alleges that Rogers disposed of the car used to transport R.H.’s body by selling the car at a scrap metal dealership.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Memphis Field Office's Tarnished Badge Task Force and Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

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

Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently sentenced a Memphis man to more than 7 years in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. 

According to information presented in court, on November 2, 2022, officers approached a black Infiniti G37 backed into a parking space in front of a BP gas station in the Whitehaven community.  Because of a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, the officers told the driver, Tracey Shaw, 27, to roll down his window.  Shaw refused; instead, he started the Infiniti and accelerated out of the parking lot, striking one of the officers with the car.  Shaw then led officers on a car chase eastbound on Shelby Drive reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.  After Shaw crashed the Infiniti on Tchulahoma Road, he fled on foot and hid in the backyard of a nearby residence.  Officers arrested Shaw and recovered a Glock .40 caliber pistol with a 22-round extended magazine that Shaw had concealed behind the residence. 

On August 16, 2023, Shaw pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Shaw on May 2, 2024, to 92 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

The PSN Gun Task Force investigated this case for federal prosecution with assistance from the Memphis Police Department.

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Regina Thompson, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case. 

 

Memphis, TN - A federal judge recently sentenced a Memphis man to 46 months in federal prison for possessing goods that had been stolen from a semi-trailer traveling from Ontario, Canada, which was parked in Memphis overnight.  United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today. 

According to information presented in court, on May 5, 2022, after 3:00 A.M., Memphis Police officers were flagged down by a truck driver and his wife who reported that their parked semi-trailer had been burglarized.  The victims told officers that they felt movement in the back of the trailer, and while they were investigating, a shot was fired.  The victims reported that at least six DuroMax Dual Fuel generators had been stolen out of the trailer.  Investigators tracked the generators to the residence of Andre Treadwell, 32, where they discovered five of the stolen DuroMax generators, a pair of bolt cutters, a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 rifle, various live rounds of ammunition, and several bottles of Jimador Tequila that were reported stolen from an earlier shipment. 

On January 30, 2024, Treadwell pled guilty to possession of the stolen generators as well as possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.  On May 3, 2024, United States District Thomas L. Parker sentenced Treadwell to 46 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

The case was investigated by the Memphis Cargo Theft Task Force, a multi-agency task force formed in 2008 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to focus on cargo and major theft in Shelby County.  The Memphis Police Department provided additional assistance in this case. 

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case. 

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For more information, please contact Tjuana Holmes at (901) 544-4231 or Tjuana.Holmes@usdoj.gov.  Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on Twitter at @WDTNNews for office news and updates. 

A former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) tactical officer, Javian Griffin, 38, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for using excessive force against an inmate and writing a false report to cover it up.

Griffin pleaded guilty to the offense on Oct. 11, 2023. His co-defendant, another former TDOC tactical officer, Sebron Hollands, pleaded guilty on Oct. 2, 2023, to writing a false report.

“The defendant pledged to protect and serve but instead he abused his authority as a corrections officer, violently punching a man in the head and breaking his jaw,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendant made matters worse by trying to cover up his tracks with a false report.  This sentence sends a clear message that the Justice Department will hold accountable any official inside our jails and prisons who violates an inmate’s civil rights.”

“No correctional officer is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “The defendant assaulted an inmate and then tried to cover it up. This office’s National Security and Civil Rights Unit will continue to prioritize the prosecution of public employees who violate the civil rights of others.”

“When correctional officers abuse their authority, it not only violates our civil rights laws, it undermines the criminal justice system,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “The FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.”

According to court documents entered in connection with the guilty plea, Griffin, without justification, punched an inmate in the head, breaking the inmate’s jaw. The inmate did not resist or pose a threat justifying the defendant’s use of force. After the incident, Griffin wrote a false report to cover-up the assault. Griffin’s co-defendant, Hollands, assisted with the cover up by providing false information in his official use of force report to obstruct the investigation of the incident.

The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Matthew Tannenbaum and Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

Updated May 6, 2024

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Topic

CIVIL RIGHTS

Components

Civil Rights Division 

Civil Rights - Criminal Section 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 

USAO - Tennessee, Western

Press Release Number: 24-576

A former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) tactical officer, Javian Griffin, 38, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for using excessive force against an inmate and writing a false report to cover it up.

Griffin pleaded guilty to the offense on Oct. 11, 2023. His co-defendant, another former TDOC tactical officer, Sebron Hollands, pleaded guilty on Oct. 2, 2023, to writing a false report.

“The defendant pledged to protect and serve but instead he abused his authority as a corrections officer, violently punching a man in the head and breaking his jaw,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendant made matters worse by trying to cover up his tracks with a false report.  This sentence sends a clear message that the Justice Department will hold accountable any official inside our jails and prisons who violates an inmate’s civil rights.”

“No correctional officer is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “The defendant assaulted an inmate and then tried to cover it up. This office’s National Security and Civil Rights Unit will continue to prioritize the prosecution of public employees who violate the civil rights of others.”

“When correctional officers abuse their authority, it not only violates our civil rights laws, it undermines the criminal justice system,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “The FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.”

According to court documents entered in connection with the guilty plea, Griffin, without justification, punched an inmate in the head, breaking the inmate’s jaw. The inmate did not resist or pose a threat justifying the defendant’s use of force. After the incident, Griffin wrote a false report to cover-up the assault. Griffin’s co-defendant, Hollands, assisted with the cover up by providing false information in his official use of force report to obstruct the investigation of the incident.

The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Matthew Tannenbaum and Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

A federal jury convicted three members of the Hoover Criminal Gang yesterday for their roles in the murder of a suspected rival gang member.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Markell Young, 32; Octavius Ferguson, 27; and Jordan Powell, 25, all of Gibson County, Tennessee, were members of a sub-set of the Hoover Criminal Gang known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. This violent criminal street gang operated throughout Tennessee, California, and elsewhere, and was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and the trafficking of marijuana and cocaine.

On Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt, Tennessee, in retaliation for a shooting against a member of the Hoover Criminal Gang. Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, and co-defendants Bakari Lenon, and Monterio Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and shooting several firearms indiscriminately through the open front door, killing the victim.

The jury convicted Young of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and Ferguson and Powell of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and causing death by use of a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 20. Young faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, and Ferguson and Powell each face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The two additional defendants, Lenon and Ross, pleaded guilty in October 2023 for their roles in the homicide and were each sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division made the announcement.

The FBI, ATF, West Tennessee Drug Task Force, Humboldt Police Department, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigations investigated the case.

Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

A federal jury convicted three members of the Hoover Criminal Gang yesterday for their roles in the murder of a suspected rival gang member.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Markell Young, 32; Octavius Ferguson, 27; and Jordan Powell, 25, all of Gibson County, Tennessee, were members of a sub-set of the Hoover Criminal Gang known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. This violent criminal street gang operated throughout Tennessee, California, and elsewhere, and was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and the trafficking of marijuana and cocaine.

On Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt, Tennessee, in retaliation for a shooting against a member of the Hoover Criminal Gang. Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, and co-defendants Bakari Lenon and Monterio Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and shooting several firearms indiscriminately through the open front door, killing the victim.

The jury convicted Young of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and Ferguson and Powell of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and causing death by use of a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 20. Young faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, and Ferguson and Powell each face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The two additional defendants, Lenon and Ross, pleaded guilty in October 2023 for their roles in the homicide and were each sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division made the announcement.

The FBI, ATF, West Tennessee Drug Task Force, Humboldt Police Department, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigations investigated the case.

Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

Memphis, TN – A Nigerian citizen residing in Georgia has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that perpetuated a series of romance and investment scams against victims across the United States, including in Western Tennessee. Efe Egbowawa, 40, was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a scheme that used false identities and email accounts on internet dating sites to trick people into wiring or mailing money to shell companies and fictitious agents.  Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentencing today.

A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee indicted Egbowawa and the following individuals on June 29, 2023 with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering:

• Igocha Mac-Okor, 40, a Nigerian citizen residing in the Atlanta area, and
• Kay Ozegbe, 44, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Atlanta.  

Evidence presented in court revealed that from 2017 to approximately November 2021, conspiracy members assumed false identities on email, social media, gaming applications, networking websites, dating websites, and other internet-based platforms in a scheme to trick victims into entering friendships and romantic relationships. The defendants then played various roles in exploiting those connections to convince their victims to send them money via wire, check, U.S. mail, and package delivery services.

As part of the conspiracy, romance scammers or “handlers” posed as potential friends or romantic partners and entered online relationships with unwitting victims. The relationships usually developed quickly through social media contact, text messages, email, and phone calls. Once the victim was clearly engaged in the scam, the scammer would begin to ask for emergency financial assistance. If the victim sent money, the scammer would ask for increasingly larger amounts of financial assistance.

Members of the conspiracy played different roles. Some functioned as the scammers, disguising their identities with online aliases, and luring unsuspecting victims into relationships. Others functioned as “money mules,” that is, individuals who moved the financial proceeds of the scams through several layers of bank accounts and shell companies to hide the sources of the money and make it difficult to trace.

On April 17, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Egbowawa to 60 months in federal prison. Ozegbe pled guilty on January 29 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and will be sentenced on May 24, 2024. Mac-Okor is scheduled for trial on August 5, 2024.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Memphis Field Office and the United States Postal Investigation Service.

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Smith, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners for their role in the investigation.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced a Memphis resident to five years in federal prison for possessing 25 machine gun conversion devices, more commonly known as “switches”.  United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, U. S. Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted a package from an overseas shipper addressed to Roosevelt Wilson, 43, which was found to contain 25 machine gun conversion devices. These devices significantly enhance the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm, converting a gun designed to fire a bullet and quickly reload after each trigger pull to instead function as a fully automatic weapon. 

On February 28, 2023, officers made a controlled delivery of the package to the address listed.  Wilson retrieved the package and the officers attempted arrest.  The defendant then led officers on a high-speed pursuit through a residential neighborhood, tossing the package and a firearm out of his vehicle.  Both were discovered along his path of travel. The firearm was later identified as a .40 caliber privately made, Glock-style gun with no serial numbers; it also had a machine gun conversion device affixed to it. 

Wilson pled guilty on January 12 to possession of 25 machine gun conversion devices and to receiving and possessing 25 machine gun conversion devices that had been unlawfully imported into the United States. On April 25, 2024, United States District Thomas L. Parker sentenced Wilson to 60 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. 

Homeland Security Investigations and U. S. Customs and Border Protection investigated this case on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Southaven Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service also provided assistance. 

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

Memphis, TN – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and the Department of Justice’s Office of Victims of Crime (“OVC”) will join communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and celebrating victims’ rights, protections, and services. This year’s observance takes place April 21-27, 2024, and features the theme, “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.” The theme aims to ensure that everyone in a community knows where and how crime victims and survivors can find help — including friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, service providers, or other trusted members of the community.

Each year in April, the Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. According to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2022, there were nearly 20 million crime victimizations in the United States. More than 6.6 million were the result of violent crimes, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Of that 6.6 million, only about 42% were reported to police.

The United States Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and right of victims of crime.

Here, in the Western District of Tennessee, we have a dedicated Victim Witness Coordinator who supports federal crime victims by providing victims with essential services, including referrals to counseling, securing temporary housing, assisting with access to victim’s compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court proceedings to provide support and guidance. These services provide victims with tools to reshape their futures.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of the art knowledge and practices across the United States, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime-fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can bae effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter partnerships with these officers. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week resources can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw.

More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge in Memphis sentenced a Collierville resident to more than four years in prison for running a fraudulent commodities investment scheme which lost investors over $2,000,000. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, between January and November 2022, Donald Wray Rodgers, 55, lied to more than 50 investors in multiple states about the performance of his unregistered commodities trading fund, Three Brides Trading. Rodgers doctored monthly performance statements to mimic fund growth; in reality, the fund was depreciating due to Rodgers’s bad trades. The fraud victims ran the gamut of income levels, from bank executives to landscapers. Rodgers’s deception was finally uncovered in November 2022 when victims made calls on their investments that Three Bridges Trading Fund did not have the funds to cover.

Rodgers pled guilty to wire fraud on December 18, 2023. On March 21, District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Rodgers to 51 months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case.

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney William C. Bateman III, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the federal government, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently sentenced a Memphis man to more than 12 years in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on September 16, 2022, officers observed Carl Turner, 26, driving a white 2020 Kia Optima matching the description of a vehicle that had been reported stolen the night before. The officers activated their blue lights and sirens for a traffic stop but Turner reversed and drove towards the officers’ squad cars, striking one and disabling it in the process.  Turner then led officers in a high-speed car chase for two miles through a residential neighborhood. After Turner crashed the Kia into a utility pole, he ran away from the officers on foot and tossed a brown backpack during the chase.  Officers detained Turner and recovered the brown backpack, which contained a Bersa .380 caliber automatic pistol. 

On November 20, 2023, Turner pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Turner on March 14 to 150 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The PSN Gun Task Force investigated this case for federal prosecution with assistance from the Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

A Tennessee nurse practitioner known locally as the “Rock Doc” was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for illegally prescribing opioids — including oxycodone and fentanyl — from his medical practice in Jackson, Tennessee.

“The self-proclaimed ‘Rock Doc’ abused the power of the prescription pad to supply his small community with hundreds of thousands of doses of highly addictive prescription opioids to obtain money, notoriety, and sexual favors,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s conduct endangered his patients and the community as a whole. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this criminal conduct and the department’s commitment to protecting communities from the scourge of illegally prescribed drugs.”

“The epidemic of opioid abuse is fueled by doctors like the defendant who are willing to over-prescribe highly addictive drugs and exploit patient pain for their own financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “This sentence sends a strong message that healthcare professionals who prey on those who suffer from addiction are no better than street corner drug dealers — and that our office and law enforcement partners will hold them just as accountable for their crimes.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jeffrey W. Young Jr., 49, of Jackson, used his medical practice, Preventagenix, to illegally prescribe medically unnecessary controlled substance pills to hundreds of patients, including a pregnant woman and women with whom he was having inappropriate physical relationships. Young maintained a party-type atmosphere at his clinic, and prescribed these drugs at least in part to boost his popularity on social media and promote a self-produced reality TV show pilot based on his self-identified persona, the “Rock Doc.” Young prescribed more than 100,000 doses of hydrocodone, oxycodone, and fentanyl into the community.

“Mr. Young operated a medical practice with a wanton disregard for the health and well-being of his patients who entrusted him with their medical care,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek Davodowich of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Louisville Field Division. “Any healthcare provider who conducts business in such a manner that causes harm to his patients and community should expect to meet the full weight of the justice system.”

“While we applaud the dedication of the overwhelming majority of medical providers, on occasion, a provider such as Mr. Young abuses his prescribing authority to serve self-interests and contribute to patient addiction and endangerment,” said Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). “Alongside our valuable law enforcement partners, the healthcare community, and private citizens, the TBI stands committed to identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice those who seek to misuse their authority for personal gain or notoriety and put our community at risk.”

The DEA and TBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Jackson Police Department.

Assistant Chief Kate Payerle and Trial Attorney Drew Pennebaker of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Memphis, TN – A federal jury convicted a Tennessee podiatrist today for a scheme to defraud Medicare and TennCare by prescribing and dispensing medically unnecessary foot bath medications and obtaining millions of dollars in reimbursements.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nathan Lucas, D.P.M., 59, of Memphis, owned and operated a podiatry clinic, Advanced Foot & Ankle Care of Memphis LLC, as well as two in-house pharmacies. Lucas regularly prescribed antibiotic and antifungal drugs to be mixed into a tub of water for patients to soak their feet. These drug cocktails included capsules, creams, and powders that were not indicated to be dissolved in water and some of which were not even water soluble. Lucas chose these medications to prescribe and dispense based on their anticipated reimbursement amount, rather than medical necessity. From October 2018 through September 2021, Lucas caused his pharmacies to submit nearly $4 million in claims to Medicare and TennCare for dispensing expensive foot bath medications that were not medically necessary and not eligible for reimbursement, for which Lucas’s pharmacies were reimbursed over $3 million.

The jury convicted Lucas of five counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.

HHS-OIG and TBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter and Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

A federal jury convicted a Tennessee podiatrist today for a scheme to defraud Medicare and TennCare by prescribing and dispensing medically unnecessary foot bath medications and obtaining millions of dollars in reimbursements.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nathan Lucas, D.P.M., 59, of Memphis, owned and operated a podiatry clinic, Advanced Foot & Ankle Care of Memphis LLC, as well as two in-house pharmacies. Lucas regularly prescribed antibiotic and antifungal drugs to be mixed into a tub of water for patients to soak their feet. These drug cocktails included capsules, creams, and powders that were not indicated to be dissolved in water and some of which were not even water soluble. Lucas chose these medications to prescribe and dispense based on their anticipated reimbursement amount, rather than medical necessity. From October 2018 through September 2021, Lucas caused his pharmacies to submit nearly $4 million in claims to Medicare and TennCare for dispensing expensive foot bath medications that were not medically necessary and not eligible for reimbursement, for which Lucas’s pharmacies were reimbursed over $3 million.

The jury convicted Lucas of five counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.

HHS-OIG and TBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter and Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Memphis, TN – A retired auto mechanic in Memphis pled guilty in federal court yesterday to trafficking counterfeit airbags and causing a dangerous good or forbidden explosive to be placed onto a commercial aircraft. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the guilty plea today.

According to information presented in court, Mohammed Al-Abadi, 51, imported counterfeit motor vehicle airbag parts from China and assembled the parts to make counterfeit airbags. Al-Abadi then sold the fake airbags on eBay to unsuspecting automobile repair shops and individual customers for prices ranging from $100 to $725 each. On December 8, 2020, a shipment of counterfeit airbag parts ordered by Al-Abadi was intercepted by agents from the United States Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Further investigation determined that Al-Abadi sold approximately 533 counterfeit airbags. Additionally, Al-Abadi shipped at least one counterfeit airbag by airplane without proper hazardous material classifications, labeling, or packaging in violation of the Department of Transportation’s hazardous material regulations.

China has been identified as one of the largest exporters of counterfeit commodities, including counterfeit airbags. In this case, federal agents recovered more than 2,000 counterfeit airbags and parts from Al-Abadi’s residence and place of business. 

Al-Abadi is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Mark S. Norris on June 11, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $2,000,000, and three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge in Memphis sentenced Danville, Illinois native Joseph Willis, 44, to more than two years in prison for bank fraud. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Willis was living in Memphis when he and several co-conspirators executed a scheme to deposit and cash stolen United States Treasury checks. Between April and August 2018, Willis and others deposited or attempted to deposit no fewer than six stolen checks, totaling $150,657.26. The United States Postal Inspection Service began investigating Willis and found his fingerprints on multiple stolen U.S. Treasury checks. Investigators also obtained camera footage from several local banks that showed him depositing the stolen checks.

Willis pled guilty to bank fraud on October 20, 2023. On March 1, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Willis to 25 months in federal prison for his role in the crime to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney William Bateman, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.