Eastern District of Virginia

NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 250 months in prison for multiple carjackings and for using a firearm while committing the carjackings.

According to court documents, on November 3, 2020, in Chesapeake, Bryant Marcus Wilkerson, 30, approached an individual who was sitting in the driver seat of their vehicle after having just left their work. Wilkerson told the driver of the vehicle to get out of the car or he would shoot the driver. Before the driver could close the door, Wilkerson stood in between the door and the driver’s seat and once again told the driver that he would shoot the driver if he did not get out of the vehicle. Wilkerson then produced a firearm and hit the driver in the face with it. The driver then got out of the vehicle and Wilkerson drove it away. The vehicle was found abandoned the next day.

On November 9, 2020, Wilkerson approached another individual who was sitting in the driver seat of their vehicle in Currituck, North Carolina. Wilkerson opened the passenger side door, pointed a firearm at the driver, and ordered the driver to get out of the vehicle. The driver exited the vehicle, but Wilkerson was unable to start the car because the driver still had the key fob. Wilkerson then got into another vehicle that was unoccupied with the engine running and fled the scene. Deputies from the Currituck County Police Department attempted to stop Wilkerson, but he led them on a high-speed chase where Wilkerson drove into oncoming traffic at a high rate of speed and ran other vehicles off the road.

Wilkerson later exited that vehicle and, after a foot pursuit, jumped on the hood of another vehicle, pointed a firearm at the driver, and told the driver to get out. Wilkerson then fired a shot into the dash and pointed the firearm at the driver again. The driver got out of the vehicle and Wilkerson drove it away. Wilkerson led law enforcement officers on another high-speed chase, this time traveling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour while driving in the wrong direction on an expressway. Law enforcement officers were able to flatten Wilkerson’s tires using spike strips, which forced him to finally stop. Wilkerson fled on foot again, robbed another citizen, and ultimately broke into yet another locked vehicle.  Officers found Wilkerson hiding in the vehicle with a firearm and took him into custody.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jason Miyares, Virginia Attorney General; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.

Significant assistance was provided by the Currituck County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Cheney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc West prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-152.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Durham, North Carolina, man pleaded guilty today to attempted possession of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine.

According to court documents, on August 2, Jose Arellano-Rodriguez, 26, was arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents when he brought $90,000 to a rest stop in New Kent County to pay for what he believed was a load of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine. The load had been intercepted one week prior by law enforcement from within a vehicle believed to have crossed the Mexican border into the United States. The individuals Arellano-Rodriguez provided the money to were members of law enforcement. Once the money was provided by Arellano-Rodriguez, he was arrested and taken into custody. Following his arrest, law enforcement discovered a firearm in Arellano-Rodriguez’s possession.

Arellano-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to attempted possession of more than five kilograms of cocaine and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for DEA’s Washington Division; and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt is prosecuting the case.

Assistance was provided by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-61.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for a wire fraud and identity theft scheme.

According to court documents, in March 2021, Dominique M. Avery, 29, assumed the identity of another person and secured incorporation documents for a business that claimed to provide technology services, Home Technology Innovations, LLC (HTI). Avery used those fraudulently obtained documents, as well as a forged check and the personal identifying information (PII) of several other individuals, to cause an out-of-state payroll services company to make more than $150,000 in direct deposits into various bank accounts. These fraudulently obtained funds were purportedly for the salaries of HTI’s employees. In reality, HTI had no employees, and Avery was able to access and spend a substantial portion of the funds deposited into each account before the scheme was discovered. 

Avery was previously convicted of similar federal fraud offenses. Avery’s recent offense occurred only months after he completed his prior federal sentence. Avery used the PII of several of the victims in the prior case to commit these new crimes.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mozzi prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-017.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Lancaster County man was sentenced yesterday to 9 years in prison for possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony.

According to court documents, on August 8, 2022, Kendrick Lamar Diggs, 32, was in possession of a high-capacity firearm and thirty rounds of ammunition. Law enforcement responded to a call for assistance after Diggs was reportedly brandishing a firearm. When Diggs was located, he was in a vehicle and initially pulled over. However, as law enforcement officers approached, Diggs put the car in drive and fled, driving at speeds in excess of 80 mph for approximately two miles on Beanes Road, a two-lane roadway in the Browns Store area. As Diggs rounded a bend in the road, he nearly collided with a law enforcement vehicle. His car then spun out of control, and he hit a culvert, flipping the car several times.

An Anderson Manufacturing high-capacity AR-style firearm, as well as 30 rounds of ammunition, were ejected from the car and scattered throughout the debris field. Diggs fled from the car, running on foot into a wooded area. He was apprehended by law enforcement shortly thereafter. Diggs had previously been convicted of attempted murder in the second degree and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason Miyares, Virginia Attorney General; and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.

Significant assistance was provided by the Chesapeake Bay Narcotics and Gang Task Force, the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea-Miller and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devon Schulz prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-180.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man pleaded guilty yesterday to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, on May 25, Lieutenant Michael Andrew Widroff, 34, a Naval Officer previously assigned as the psychologist for the USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN-78) in Norfolk, initiated sexual conversation with who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl over Snapchat. He later expressed that he thought the girl was “hot” and that he wished to meet her in person. Widroff instructed the girl on how to masturbate and explained that he wished to engage in numerous sexual acts when they met. On June 7, Widroff drove from work to meet with the girl for sex and deleted the incriminating Snapchat application off his phone prior to his arrest.     

Widroff is scheduled to be sentenced on February 23, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu is prosecuting the case.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-78.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Marne, Michigan, man pleaded guilty today to a wire fraud charge arising from his participation in an investment fraud scheme.

According to court documents, beginning in at least February 2014, Steven Vernon Cross, 52, along with co-defendant Pranit Patil, 34, an Indian national, engaged in a years-long scheme to defraud victims who lent funds to or invested in Cross’s company, Commonwealth Applied Silica Technologies, LLC (CAST). Cross falsely represented to victims that CAST had valuable contracts with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for silica processing. As part of the scheme, Cross provided victims with fake NASA contracts, assisted by Patel, who falsely presented himself as a NASA employee in charge of contracting. Cross led victims to believe that their funds were being invested in profit-making endeavors, when in fact many of the funds were being used to pay Cross’s personal expenses and also being paid out to Patil.

Cross is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Adelle K. Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Field Office, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Moore and Thomas A. Garnett are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-158.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for brandishing firearms during two separate carjackings.

According to court documents, on April 13, 2021, Treon Jackson, 37, had a Ruger 9mm firearm in hand when he approached the first victim in Richmond. The car that Jackson had been using had run out of gas and he wanted to travel to Petersburg. Approximately five minutes prior to committing the first carjacking, Jackson texted an individual telling them that he was looking for a car. Just minutes later, Jackson approached the victim with his gun drawn while they were parked outside a residence where the victim was working. Jackson pointed the firearm at the victim and demanded that they get out of their work truck. The victim complied with Jackson’s demand and Jackson entered the victim’s truck and drove away from the area. Jackson then traveled to Chesterfield, arriving at a restaurant parking lot about 30 minutes after the first carjacking. He parked the work truck and waited next to an SUV. When the second victim exited the restaurant a few minutes later, Jackson got out of the truck and pointed the firearm at the second victim, demanding the keys to the SUV. The second victim also complied and Jackson drove away in the SUV.

Chesterfield police were able to determine the SUV that Jackson had carjacked was in Petersburg. There, a Petersburg Police Officer noticed the SUV fitting the description of the carjacked vehicle. As the officer attempted to stop the SUV, Jackson fled at a high rate of speed, running through multiple stop lights in an effort to get away. As he was about to get onto Interstate 95 North, the SUV was remotely disabled by a stolen-vehicle tracking system installed in the SUV and Jackson was taken into custody.

Investigators located the keys to both stolen vehicles insidethe SUV, along with the high-capacity Ruger 9mm firearm, which was loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition with a round in the chamber. As part of his plea, Jackson admitted that he had committed the two car jackings by force, violence, and intimidation with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury.     

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Colonel Jeffrey S. Katz, Chesterfield County Police Department; and Travis C. Christian, Chief of Petersburg Bureau of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Mastandrea-Miller and Avi Panth prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-81.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Williamsburg man pleaded guilty yesterday to tax fraud.

According to court documents, from 2016 to at least 2020, Stephen G. Genakos, 62, was the sole owner and managing director of Sarantos, Inc., a Virginia corporation, having made a Subchapter S election, doing business as a restaurant, Sportsmans Grille, in York County. Since 2016, Genakos skimmed U.S. currency from the Sportsmans Grille.

In 2020, Genakos listed the Sportsmans Grille for sale for $795,000. In 2021, undercover agents from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) made contact with Genakos. During this operation, Genakos provided IRS agents the chance to view the true books and records of the Sportsmans Grille. For tax years 2016 through 2020, Genakos filed materially false tax returns for himself and his business, Sarantos Inc.

Genakos pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a materially false tax return and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mack Coleman and Brian Samuels are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-37.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on March 29, 2023, officers of the Richmond Police Department responded to a call of an active shooting near the intersection of Williamsburg Road and Government Road. Units arrived at that location within minutes of receiving the report and went to the parking lot of the Krispie’s Chicken restaurant, which was near the intersection where the shooting reportedly occurred. When they arrived, they saw Devon Martin, 30, wearing a hoodie which appeared to have a heavy, L-shaped object in the right pocket of the hoodie. As the officers approached Martin, he got into the passenger side of a vehicle. The officers ordered Martin to exit the vehicle and then conducted a pat down of his person. They found in Martin’s possession a Taurus, 9mm firearm in the pocket of his hoodie.

Martin was previously convicted in 2019 in the Eastern District of Virginia for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Martin is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Summer L. Speight accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-96.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on February 7, 2022, individuals called 911 to report a shooting by a male in a silver vehicle in Newport News. Approximately 15 minutes later, Iziaha Tisdale, 25, was observed in a silver vehicle at the scene of the shooting being investigated. Witnesses there identified Tisdale’s vehicle as the shooter’s, but when officers attempted to stop him, he fled on foot. During his flight, he threw a loaded firearm, which officers quickly recovered.

Tisdale was previously convicted in Newport News Circuit Court of attempted unlawful wounding and of maliciously shooting at a car in connection with the February shooting.

Tisdale pleaded guilty to prohibited possession of a firearm and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Podlesni is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-cr-85.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Chesterfield woman was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for defrauding Virginia Medicaid of $211,176.96 in a home health care fraud scheme that lasted over seven years.

According to court documents, from 2013 to 2021, Virginia Jackson-Wallace, 65, fraudulently billed Medicaid when she claimed two family members were providing home health care to her and two other Medicaid recipients when, in fact, they were not providing home health care. The defendant knowingly submitted over 200 fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid that falsely claimed an aggregate 22,938 hours of home health care that was not provided. To facilitate her scheme, the defendant opened joint bank accounts with the two purported aides but maintained exclusive control over these bank accounts, and thus exclusive control over the funds of her fraudulent scheme. The defendant had over 50 prior felony convictions, most of them related to a variety of fraud schemes.

After Jackson-Wallace pleaded guilty to this scheme and while on pretrial release, she deposited two fraudulent checks and withdrew funds the bank credited to her account as a result. The Court subsequently found the defendant in violation of the terms of her pretrial release, and revoked the defendant’s bond, ordering her held in prison pending sentencing.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit provided significant assistance in this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea Gibbons prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-73.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Arlington man was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, while visiting South Carolina in February 2020, James Gordon Meek, 53, used an online messaging platform on his iPhone to send and receive images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and to discuss his sexual interest in children. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12, including an infant being raped. Meek brought the iPhone containing the child sexual abuse material back with him when he returned to Virginia. Additionally, Meek possessed multiple electronic devices containing images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell and Trial Attorney Whitney Kramer for the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case.

This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. Valuable assistance was provided by the Arlington County Police Department. 

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-65.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Connex Family Services, LLC (Connex), located in Warrenton, and Bianca Riddle, 33, a resident of Gloucester, have agreed to pay $918,000 to settle a civil fraud case that claimed Connex and Riddle submitted or caused false claims to be submitted to Medicaid and TRICARE.

The government alleged that Connex and Riddle submitted claims to TRICARE and Medicaid for applied behavioral analysis services that were not provided during the period from March 1, 2019, through November 13, 2021. Connex’s behavioral analysis services are provided to children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other related disorders.

Connex and Riddle will pay additional amounts, up to $2,053,387, if the company is sold within five years.

As part of the settlement, Connex entered into a three-year Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). This Integrity Agreement is designed to promote compliance with the statutes, regulations, program requirements, and written directives of Medicaid and all other federal health care programs.

The settlement arises in connection with two lawsuits filed by former employees under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act. United States ex rel. Schwartz v. Connex Family Services, LLC, et al., and United States ex rel. Liguori v. Connex Family Services, LLC, et al. The matters were consolidated in the Newport News Division.

A whistleblower suit, or qui tam action under the False Claims Act, is commenced by an individual, known as a “relator,” filing a complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court, and providing a copy of the complaint and other evidence to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States then has an opportunity to investigate the claims. The False Claims Act provides whistleblowers with a share of the government’s recovery.

The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General.

The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clare P. Wuerker and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilene Albala. Assistant Attorneys General Ray F. Bowman and Jordan E. Sturgis of the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit handled the matter for Virginia Medicaid claims. 

A copy of this press release may be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit can be accessed on PACER by searching for No. 4:21-cv-52.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A foreign national formerly of Henrico pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and insider trading.

According to court documents, Nan Huang, 44, conspired with his then-coworker to commit insider trading. From 2008 to 2015, Huang worked as a senior data analyst for a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation. As a senior data analyst, Huang had access to a Capital One database that collected transaction data from Capital One credit card and debit card customers. In violation of his fiduciary duties to Capital One, Huang searched this database thousands of times and compiled on his work computer material, nonpublic information about publicly traded companies. Because this information was highly correlated with the not-yet-public actual revenue of these companies, Huang was able to predict whether these companies would meet their revenue expectations. Huang then executed hundreds of trades using this non-public information and reaped extraordinary profits. Huang personally made over $1.4 million in profits and the conspiracy made over $3.1 million.

Capital One fired Huang in 2015 after it discovered his activity. Days later, Huang fled the country to China where he remained until his arrest at San Francisco International Airport earlier this year.

Huang is scheduled to be sentenced on February 2, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis, III accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Hood and Zachary Ray is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-319.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber recognized over 300 officers and agents from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with Public Service Awards.

The Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) typically holds annual awards ceremonies to recognize the law enforcement officials for their service and contribution to various criminal and civil cases investigated and prosecuted here in EDVA. Award ceremonies took place September 6 in Newport News, September 7 in Norfolk, September 26 in Richmond, and today in Alexandria. 

“Here in EDVA, as part of the Department of Justice, our mission is to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights.” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “But we do not – and we cannot – do this work alone. Every day, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from across the country work to protect their communities. These awardees were critical teammates on federal cases that represent the very best of this noble work.”

The awards highlighted federal cases, operations, and initiatives from 2022. The federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies listed below had officers and/or agents who were recognized for their bravery, outstanding collaboration, investigative achievement, investigative excellence, and victim assistance. Members of the following agencies were recognized at each of the ceremonies:

Alexandria

Newport News

Norfolk

Richmond

Alexandria Police

ATF Washington Field Division

ATF Washington Field Division

ATF Washington Field Division

Arlington County Police

Department of Labor OIG

Chesapeake Police Department

Department of Education – OIG

ATF Washington Division

FBI Cincinnati

Department of Homeland Security – OIG

Department of Homeland Security - OIG

Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section – HTIU

FBI Norfolk Field Office

Department of Labor – OIG

Department of Labor – OIG

Defense Contract Audit Agency

Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office

Drug Enforcement Administration

Drug Enforcement Administration Washington

Defense Criminal Investigative Services

Hampton Police

FBI-Norfolk Field Office

FBI-Richmond Field Office

Defense Intelligence Agency-Office of Inspector General

Homeland Security Investigations

General Services Administration– OIG

FDIC- OIG

Department of Homeland Security

Mathews County Sheriff’s Office

Homeland Security Investigations

Henrico County Police

Drug Enforcement Administration Memphis

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Homeland Security Investigations

Drug Enforcement Administration Washington

Newport News Police

Norfolk Police

IRS-Criminal Investigation

FBI Washington Field Office

U.S. Marshals Service

U.S. Marshals Service

Richmond Police 

Homeland Security Investigations

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Small Business Administration – OIG

IRS-Criminal Investigations

Virginia Beach Police

Virginia Attorney General’s Office

Social Security Administration- OIG

Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office

Virginia State Police

Virginia Beach Police

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Manassas City Police Department

 

Virginia Dept. of Forensic Science

VCU Police

Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority Police

 

Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

Virginia Office of Attorney General

Montgomery County Police Department

 

Virginia State Corporation Commission

Virginia Office of the State Inspector General

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

 

Virginia State Police

Virginia State Corporation Commission

Small Business Administration - OIG

     

TSA Federal Air Marshal Service

     

U.S. Air Force – Office of Special Investigations

     

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service  

     

U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS)

     

U.S. Marine Corps

     

U.S. Park Police

     

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

     

U.S. Secret Service

     

Virginia State Police

     

In addition to awards presented for investigative efforts, the peer recovery specialists of Project Recover and their law enforcement and emergency medical partners were also recognized with an award at the Richmond ceremony. Project Recover funds certified peer recovery specialists (CPRS) assigned to Richmond City PD, Richmond Ambulance Authority, Chesterfield County PD, Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, eleven Bon Secours hospitals, and the Bon Secours’ Partial Hospitalization Program. These CPRSs assist overdose victims in getting into treatment and recovery programs immediately following drug overdose resuscitation and provide follow-up services and support. These individuals and their medical and law enforcement counterparts were awarded for their significant impact on public health and safety through trainings, Naloxone distribution, engagements with individuals suffering from substance use disorder, and increasing public awareness of treatment and recovery services.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced yesterday to 29 years in prison for his role in a series of armed robberies of 7-Eleven establishments in the cities of Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.

According to court documents, starting just before midnight on July 24, 2019, and into the early morning hours of July 25, 2019, Deric Simons, 23; his co-conspirator Ronald Lee Brookins, Jr., 22, of Suffolk; and a third individual conducted a series of armed robberies at 7-Eleven convenience stores. Beginning at a store in Newport News, the three men entered the stores armed with a firearm, a knife, and a BB gun that resembled a real firearm. While brandishing their weapons, they demanded U.S. currency and commercial products from frightened employees. After leaving Newport News, the three conspirators committed four additional robberies, moving between locations in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. During the fifth and final robbery, Brookins and the third co-conspirator entered the convenience store while Simons remained in the getaway vehicle. In addition to the store employee, there were three customers inside the store at the time of the robbery. Brookins and the third co-conspirator brandished the BB gun and the loaded firearm at the employee and customers. As Brookins began to empty the register, an armed customer, fearing for everyone’s safety, discharged his personal weapon, injuring Brookins and killing the third co-conspirator.

In June, Brookins was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the robberies.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin Bird and Megan Montoya prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-168.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond City man pleaded guilty yesterday to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on November 17, 2022, Shalik Mitchell, 30, was pulled over by Richmond Police officers during a traffic stop. Officers on routine patrol on Hull Street noticed a vehicle speeding and swerving around other motorists while failing to use a turn signal. Officers tried to catch up to the vehicle, which was still gaining separation at nearly 80 mph. The vehicle nearly veered off the roadway as it came to a stop, and officers noticed the front seat passenger making stuffing movements.

A loaded Stoeger STR-9, 9mm, semi-automatic pistol was stuffed in between the driver’s seat and center console, where Mitchell sat. At the time he possessed the pistol, Mitchell was a multiple time convicted felon and was approximately seven months into a term of supervised release for a 2019 conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Mitchell was also previously convicted in 2015 by the City of Richmond Circuit Court of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21. He faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark R. Colombell accepted the plea.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Schulz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Anthony are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-39.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Huntersville, North Carolina, man was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for his role in a fraud scheme that caused over $5.8 million in losses to victims.

According to court documents and testimony at hearings, from 2016 through 2021, Jayson Ryman Colavalla, 51, along with Carl Anthony McNeill, 59, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Richard Thornhill Crock, 75, of Mableton, Georgia; and Ksyntolious Miller, 60, of Woodbridge, were involved in an advance fee scheme targeting individuals, small businesses, churches, and other entities that could not obtain conventional lines of credit through banks. The co-conspirators promised these victims that, using their relationships with major investment banks, the co-conspirators could obtain lines of credit for the victims. The scheme required that the victims advance a deposit consisting of 10-14% of the line of credit sought, representing that the deposit would be held in escrow and returned if they did not obtain the line of credit. In fact, the co-conspirators did not have any relationships with the investment banks mentioned in their dealings with the victims and did not safeguard the victims' funds in escrow.

The fraudulently obtained funds from victims were misapplied to pay co-conspirators, cover the payroll and operating expenses of C&D Corporate Services, the company McNeill used to commit the fraud, and pay frustrated victims seeking the return of deposited money. Crock also falsely represented to victims that their advanced funds would be insured via policies issued through a Georgia-based insurance company. These policies were also fraudulent, as the insurance company did not have sufficient assets on hand to compensate victims under such policies.

Colavalla was also ordered to pay over $2.4 million in restitution to victims with which he was involved.

In May, McNeill and Crock were both sentenced to 46 months in prison. In July, Miller was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Moore and Avi Panth prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-132.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Joe Slaiby, of Gainesville, agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a civil fraud case that alleged he falsified payroll and income documents to obtain loans through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for four businesses where he is the owner and President.

The PPP offered loans to eligible small businesses for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP borrowers were required to provide their income and supporting documents to qualify for the loan amount. 

Slaiby obtained seven PPP loans for his four businesses, Black Hat Transportation LLC, Green Team Limousine d.b.a. Choice Limousine & Sedan Services LLC, Health N Wealth World LLC, and Slaiby7 Investments LLC, by submitting loan applications with inflated income and fabricated payroll documents to SBA-authorized lenders. Based on these fraudulent applications, Slaiby and his corporations, with the help of co-conspirator Bennie E. Magee, obtained PPP funds.

The settlement arises in connection with a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the FCA, United States ex rel. Salman v. Bull Run Capital Investments, Inc., et al. A whistleblower suit, or qui tam action under the False Claims Act, is commenced by an individual, known as a “relator,” filing a complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court, and providing a copy of the complaint and evidence to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States then has an opportunity to investigate the claims. The False Claims Act provides whistleblowers with a share of the government’s recovery. The relator here will receive a share of this settlement.

The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.

The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Starr. The civil claims settled by this False Claims Act agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit can be accessed on PACER by searching for No. 1:21-cv-852. The criminal case against Bennie E. Magee can be accessed on  PACER by searching for No. 1:23-cr-91.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – AZ Diabetic Supply, Inc. (AZD), a durable medical equipment (DME) provider located in Vienna, was ordered to pay $12 million for its submission of nearly 1,000 false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for reimbursement.

AZD is owned and operated by Hisham Zaghal, a resident of Vienna. In its complaint filed in district court, the United States alleged that from January 2016 through December 2021, Medicare paid AZD over $600,000 in reimbursement claims for medical braces provided to Medicare-enrolled patients related to DME prescriptions that AZD illegally purchased from marketing companies. AZD, through Zaghal, paid a fee for each prescription that it purchased. AZD used the DME prescriptions and personal and medical data provided by the marketing companies to submit 923 fraudulent Medicare claims for reimbursement. The District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia held AZD liable for its actions and entered a judgment against the company for damages and penalties under the False Claims Act for $12,036,554.48.

Zaghal reached a separate settlement agreement with the United States for his alleged role in the scheme. As part of that agreement, Zaghal agreed to pay $10,000 and accept a three-year voluntary exclusion from federally funded healthcare programs. He also agreed to forgo $57,690.12 funds in escrow held by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) from the nationwide suspension of payments to AZD and Zaghal. The claims against Zaghal resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of lability.

The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Starr and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Krista Anderson.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit can be accessed on PACER by searching for No. 1:22-cv-965.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Three individuals pleaded guilty yesterday to engaging in a straw purchasing conspiracy.

According to court documents, from at least March 19, 2020, through May 5, 2021, Stanley Davis, 24, of Petersburg, Mantriel Reaves, 25, of Chandler, Arizona, and Jasiri Wynn, 23, of Mount Holly, New Jersey, conspired to make false statements to federal firearms licensees in Virginia and elsewhere in order to obtain illegal firearms. During the conspiracy, Davis acted as a straw purchaser of firearms in Virginia on behalf of Reaves and Wynn.

Davis purchased at least eight firearms for Reaves and Wynn, who directed Davis as to which firearms to purchase. Several of these firearms were later recovered from individuals alleged to be involved in criminal activity. For example, one firearm was recovered from a juvenile in Baltimore, a second firearm was recovered from an individual in New Jersey who was prohibited from possessing firearms, and a third firearm was recovered by law enforcement during the execution of a search warrant in Frostburg, Maryland, as part of an armed robbery investigation.

Davis and Reaves are scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2024. Wynn is scheduled to be sentenced on January 26, 2024 They face a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis III accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Smalky and Lauren Halper are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-111.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man and woman were sentenced yesterday to a combined 24.5 years in prison for their role in two armed robberies.

According to court documents, Michael Brown, 41, and Rashanda Booker, 38, as well as co-defendant Ricardo Horne, 41, robbed a Family Dollar, located at 7 East 16th Street, Richmond, Virginia,on April 17, 2022.  They also robbed a Dollar General, located at 3903 Walmsley Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia, on April 28, 2022.

On April 17, 2022, Horne and Brown forcefully grabbed a Family Dollar employee as he sought to empty trash prior to the store opening. Brown, holding a semiautomatic pistol that belonged to his sister, guided the employee to a safe inside the store and held him at gunpoint near the safe while emptying it.  Horne stood watch and maintained control over a customer as well as another terrified Family Dollar employee. Altogether, they obtained approximately $10,000 from Family Dollar—money they used to buy high-end shoes at a boutique shoe store. 

Between the two robberies in this case, Horne and Brown directed Booker to purchase new pistol for the second robbery. She did so on April 22, 2022. Six days later, Horne and Brown committed another armed robbery of a Dollar General. Brown entered the store carrying the semiautomatic pistol purchased by Booker alongside Horne. After Horne grabbed control of one of the employees, the two men took her to find the Dollar General manager who could open the safe. Brown held the manager at gunpoint near the safe while Horne maintained control of the other employee. Notably, several customers, including a woman and her young son, were shopping in the store at the time of the robbery.

A GPS tracker was installed inside some of the money taken from the Dollar General. Brown and Horne exited the store with the United States currency, entered Booker’s car, and then drove off. As Booker drove, Brown and Horne changed their clothing. Law enforcement began to follow the GPS tracker and discovered Booker, Brown, and Horne in Booker’s Blue Toyota sedan. Among the items recovered by law enforcement were the clothing worn during the armed robbery of the Dollar General by Brown and Horne, the Taurus, Model G3C, 9mm, semi-automatic pistol used during that robbery, and a Family Dollar bag.

Brown was sentenced to 19.5 years in prison and Booker was sentenced to 5 years in prison for their roles. Horne was previously sentenced on April 13 to 12 years in prison.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth R. Simon, Jr. and Jessica Wright prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-122.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for conspiring to launder money in relation to romance and investment frauds.

According to court documents, from 2014 to March 2019, Ishmael Kayede, 40, conspired and agreed with multiple co-conspirators to launder funds derived from mail or wire fraud schemes, including romance fraud, gold and diamond investment fraud, and other fraud scams. During his participation in this money laundering conspiracy, Kayede received funds in his bank accounts from victims of those romance and other fraud schemes while working with and at the direction of associates located in foreign jurisdictions, including Ghana.

Kayede’s co-conspirators largely targeted elderly victims in the United States, primarily using online dating websites such as match.com. They would befriend potential victims on the dating websites using false pretenses and would then exploit that trust to convince the victims to send money to Kayede’s bank accounts. Kayede would then transmit the funds to Ghana. If he had trouble moving the money, he would lie to bank officials about the source and nature of the funds. Some victims targeted by the scheme lost thousands of dollars; others lost more than a hundred thousand dollars to the defendant’s activities. In total, Kayede received and laundering approximately $1.3 million over the course of his involvement with the scheme.

Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Keim and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina Cuellar prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-94.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced yesterday to over 33 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a child and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, in February 2022, Christopher Scott Jones, 43, used the internet to entice and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. During the investigation of this offense, the FBI discovered several children who may have been victims of Jones’ conduct. The minors were forensically interviewed and three made disclosures of sexually explicit contact with Jones. One minor disclosed Jones engaging with them over the course of nine months in physical and sexual conduct, to include inappropriate sexual contact and the mutual exchange of sexually explicit images to one another. Forensic examinations of his devices and lawful searches of his accounts confirmed the illicit relationships. In addition, in July 2022, Jones traveled to meet an undercover individual posing as a 12-year-old for sex.

On May 18, Jones pleaded guilty to using a communication facility to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. Jones also pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography of his victim.Jones was formerly a lieutenant with the Newport News Fire Department.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.

James City County Police Department assisted in this investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Osyf prosecuted the case.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-32.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – On September 7, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia entered a judgment that ordered Bernice Suppey, 40, and Kwaku Adubofour, 42, of Woodbridge, to pay $336,356 based on their fraudulent applications for multiple loans through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

“The Paycheck Protection Program has been a critical lifeline to small businesses and workers during the COVID-19 crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber. “EDVA is committed to using all enforcement tools – both civil and criminal – to hold accountable anyone who took advantage of the program for personal gain.”

“This recovery is a direct result of the concerted efforts of SBA and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia to investigate claims of fraud in SBA’s COVID-relief programs and to recover funds lost through fraud from individuals and companies that engage in such activities,” said SBA’s General Counsel, Therese Meers.

The PPP offered loans to eligible small businesses for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP borrowers were required to provide their income and supporting documents to calculate and confirm the loan amount. 

Suppey and Adubofour obtained four PPP loans by submitting applications with inflated income and fabricated tax documents to SBA-authorized lenders. Based on these fraudulent applications, the Court found Suppey and Adubofour liable for violating the False Claims Act, conspiring to violate the False Claims Act, and for violating the Financial Institutions Reform, Recover, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA).

The outcome in the case was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Litigation. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Hochul III and Kristin Starr. 

The case caption is United States v. Suppey, No. 1:22-cv-00279-CMH-IDD. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Chinese national residing in Washington, D.C. yesterday on charges of conspiracy, access device fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Qinbin Chen, 29, masterminded a criminal conspiracy that obtained, trafficked, used, and laundered gift cards and debit cards purchased by victims, who were mostly elderly, from across the United States. The victims were manipulated into buying Walmart gift cards by fraudsters who told the victims a range of lies, such as their social security numbers had been compromised, their bank accounts had been hacked, or there was an issue with their computer software. The victims sent the gift cards to fraudsters who soon transferred them to Chen. Chen employed conspirators to use the Walmart gift cards to buy other gift cards. Chen then sold those “clean” gift cards to overseas buyers. Though Chen reported little legitimate income, his bank accounts showed hundreds of thousands of dollars in incoming international wires. Evidence at trial suggested that Chen trafficked about $7 million in fraudulently obtained gift cards.

Chen faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on December 18. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Chen is the seventh defendant convicted as part of this investigation. Co-conspirators He Li, 45; Shouming Sun, 44; Jin Hong, 40; Yuchen Zhang, 26; Mouluan Wu, 47; and Zhizhan Chen, 26, have pleaded guilty to related charges.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Javan S Wilson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr. accepted the verdict.

The Loudoun County Sherriff’s Office also assisted in the prosecution of Chen.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Hood and Kenneth R. Simon, Jr. are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-216.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that an indictment was unsealed charging 26 defendants of drug trafficking, possessing a firearm during drug trafficking, money laundering, and other charges.

These charges were brought as the result of Operation Lights Out, an FBI-led investigation in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The defendants have been indicted for the following charges:

Name

Age

Hometown

Charges

Cortez Dayshawn Bumphus, aka “Co”

34

Newport News

Continuing Criminal Enterprise

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Felon in possession of Firearm

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking

Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Dontae Lamont Dozier, aka “2 Chains”

 35

Chesapeake

Continuing Criminal Enterprise

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money;

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking

Maintaining Drug Involved Premise

Use of a Communications Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Zuri Anthony Dre-Oliver Reeves, aka “Zu” or “ZuWaap”

26

Spotsylvania

Continuing Criminal Enterprise

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Amanda Bell

22

Chesapeake

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Dilquon Best, aka “Quon” or “DQ”

31

Atlanta, GA

Continuing Criminal Enterprise

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Stephon Lamount Bumphus, aka “Fon”

34

Newport News

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Damian Deshawn Gay, aka “Hatch”

25

Hampton

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

Andrea Hunt

28

Hampton

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Obstruction of Justice

Ervin Orlando Linares, aka “Ery”

23

Los Angeles, CA

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Brandon Lamar Martin, aka “Lil B”

37

Hampton

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking

Carl Eugene Mitchell, Jr., aka “Lil Man”

27

Newport News

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

Earvin Jerome Moore, aka “Gooch”

43

Newport News

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises

Freddie Jamaul Moore, aka “Goons”

37

Portsmouth

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Dominique McKenzie Osborne

24

Hampton

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Rahkim O’Neil Perry, aka “Rahk”

25

Newport News

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

Graciela Ruiz-Bernabe, aka “Grace”

33

Los Angeles, CA

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

Nathan Caleb Schlosser-Goodson, aka “Nasty”

25

Yorktown

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking

Camille Lache Smith

30

Los Angeles, CA

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Anastasia Suyas

25

Newport News

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Nyra Taylor

23

Hampton

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

Christina Michele Thompson

26

Spotsylvania

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Terrance Leonard Vick, aka “V”

36

Rio Linda, CA

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Thaddeus Williams IV, aka “Thad”

31

 

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

Korea Woods

26

Irvine, CA

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Guang Yang, aka “Ryan”

26

Rosemead, CA

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Alicia Zamora

22

Chesapeake, VA

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base

Conspiracy to Launder Money

Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana

Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering

If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; Jimmie Wideman, Chief of Hampton Police; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police; Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Shannon Saylor, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement.

“The unsealing of this indictment reflects months of incredible efforts by law enforcement. We are able to bring these charges because of the effective cooperation and collaborative effort of our local, state and federal partners on this case,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “I am grateful to all our attorneys, agents and officers who work diligently every day to take massive amounts of illegal guns and drugs off of our streets.”

“The arrests made in this operation is the culmination of years of investigative work between the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Norfolk Field Office. “Today, I want to sincerely thank those partners for their teamwork and patience as we gathered the evidence needed for this investigation to come to a logical conclusion, as our law enforcement partners have been dealing with some of these offenders for over a decade. I hope that this operation gives them a return on investment for all the officers and resources they dedicated to assisting the investigation. This operation is a testament to the strong partnership the FBI has with local and state police, as well as sheriff’s offices, and how that partnership better protects our communities.”

“These arrests are just one of the many successful operations achieved over the years through the collaborative agency partnerships within the FBI Peninsula Safe Streets Task Force,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Chesapeake Field Office is proud to have played a role in dismantling what had become a very violent, multi-tiered, drug trafficking organization spanning much of the Hampton Roads region.”

“Combating violent crime, illegal firearm possession and narcotics distribution within our communities remains at the forefront of the ATF mission,” said Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division. “I am proud that our agents and partner agencies worked to bring some peace of mind back to the affected communities. ATF will continue leveraging its expertise to ensure that illegal firearms and deadly narcotics are removed from our streets.”

“Our community and surrounding jurisdictions are not immune to the violence stemming from illegal drug trafficking,” said Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police. “It has become a top priority to take illegal drugs and guns off our streets and holding those accountable for endangering our communities. We are proud to have been part of this proactive approach and are honored to have served with the U.S. Attorney’s office, and other federal and local agencies to combat this issue. We believe that together we can make a difference and create a safer environment for our community.”

“Today's arrest is a clear demonstration of the exceptional cooperative effort among law enforcement in the Hampton Roads area,” said Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police. “It exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies who have united to combat a suspected violent drug trafficking organization. This operation not only underscores the commitment of both federal and local law enforcement but also highlights their unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety of our community.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt is prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-54.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

NORFOLK, Va. – A federal judge convicted a Norfolk man yesterday on charges involving the simultaneous sale of cocaine and firearms, distribution of cocaine, use of a firearm in the commission of narcotics trafficking, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and fraudulently receiving $83,330 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2021.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, between 2021 and 2022, Bonas was apprehended by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agents after he participated in a scheme involving a group of co-conspirators who distributed approximately one kilogram of cocaine and 15 firearms. Bonas participated in four controlled purchases in the summer of 2021 which involved three firearms, two of which were stolen, and approximately 3.5 ounces of cocaine. He was also identified as a prolific distributor of crack cocaine in Norfolk and Virginia Beach during the same period.

As part of their investigation, ATF agents discovered through bank records that Bonas received four Small Business Administration-guaranteed PPP loans of $20,833 each and spent the money on various personal expenses, including the purchase of a luxury vehicle, restaurant and bar tabs, clothing, jewelry, sports gambling, and over $16,800 on rental cars. Bonas also sought and obtained forgiveness of the $83,330 in loans using the same fraudulent data.

Bonas faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on January 16, 2024. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson returned the verdict.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherrie S. Capotosto is prosecuting the case.

Congress authorized PPP loans under the CARES Act as a source of funds to allow small businesses to continue making payroll and other business-related expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 17, 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, led by the Deputy Attorney General, to bring together the full resources of the federal government to bolster fraud enforcement efforts.

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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-25.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Michael Drake, 22, and others were dealing drugs out of a residence located in Portsmouth. Over a period of three weeks in January and February, law enforcement observed at least 10 different individuals, including Drake, conduct over 500 suspected narcotics transactions. On February 23, law enforcement observed Drake with a firearm, despite being a convicted felon. He and two others, Samuel Swinney, 37, and Keith Johnson, Jr., 35, were arrested and charged.

Swinney pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine and Johnson pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Both are scheduled to be sentenced in December.

Drake is scheduled to be sentenced on January 16, 2024. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Cheney is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-83.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A foreign national was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $6 million for conspiracy to commit money laundering after laundering millions of dollars of drug proceeds on behalf of international drug trafficking organizations.

According to court documents, from at least 2014 to 2020, Jianxing Chen, 42, of Belize City, Belize, led and controlled a network of couriers who transported cash generated by the sale of cocaine throughout the United States – including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta – from those locations to New York City. From there, the cash was laundered through a variety of methods until it, or its equivalent value, was remitted to drug trafficking organizations in Latin America, including Mexico. Chen received “contracts” to transport and launder this money through co-conspirators who were prosecuted and convicted based on the same superseding indictment.

Chen coordinated the laundering of multimillion dollar quantities of drug proceeds from Latin American drug trafficking organizations, including organizations based in Mexico, into the hands of Chinese nationals, who subsequently engaged in a sophisticated scheme to covertly launder the drug money into mainland China, largely circumventing the U.S. financial system. 

Chen pleaded guilty on May 23. In October 2021, co-defendant, Xizhi Li, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leading the conspiracy to launder tens of millions of dollars for foreign drug trafficking organizations. Li signed a consent order of forfeiture for $10,000,000 to the United States pursuant to his plea.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema

The DEA Louisville Division and the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit investigated the case, with assistance from the DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit and the DEA’s offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Omaha, Atlanta, Newark, Portland (Oregon), Dallas, Mexico City, Merida (Mexico), Guatemala City, Belmopan (Belize), Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Lima, and Canberra. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Interpol, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center were partners in the case’s investigation.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing the extradition of Chen from Peru. The United States also thanks Peruvian law enforcement authorities for their assistance and collaboration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Aminoff, former Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Peters and Rachael C. Tucker, and Deputy Chief Mary K. Daly and Chief Stephen Sola of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-334.

A foreign national was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $6 million for conspiracy to commit money laundering after laundering millions of dollars of drug proceeds on behalf of international drug trafficking organizations.

According to court documents, from at least 2014 to 2020, Jianxing Chen, 42, of Belize City, Belize, led and controlled a network of couriers who transported cash generated by the sale of cocaine throughout the United States – including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta – from those locations to New York City. From there, the cash was laundered through a variety of methods until it, or its equivalent value, was remitted to drug trafficking organizations in Latin America, including Mexico. Chen received “contracts” to transport and launder this money through co-conspirators who were prosecuted and convicted based on the same superseding indictment. 

Chen coordinated the laundering of multimillion dollar quantities of drug proceeds from Latin American drug trafficking organizations, including organizations based in Mexico, into the hands of Chinese nationals, who subsequently engaged in a sophisticated scheme to covertly launder the drug money into mainland China, largely circumventing the U.S. financial system.

Chen pleaded guilty on May 23. In October 2021, co-defendant Xizhi Li was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leading the conspiracy to launder tens of millions of dollars for foreign drug trafficking organizations. Li signed a consent order of forfeiture for $10,000,000 to the United States pursuant to his plea.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram made the announcement.

The DEA Louisville Division and the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit investigated the case, with assistance from the DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit and the DEA’s offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Omaha, Atlanta, Newark, Portland (Oregon), Dallas, Mexico City, Merida (Mexico), Guatemala City, Belmopan (Belize), Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Lima, and Canberra. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Interpol, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center were partners in the investigation.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing the extradition of Chen from Peru. The United States also thanks Peruvian law enforcement authorities for their assistance and collaboration.

Deputy Chief Mary K. Daly and Chief Stephen Sola of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit, former Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Peters and Rachael C. Tucker and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Aminoff for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Baltimore man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

According to court documents, in December 2022, Rodney Burgess, 29, unlawfully purchased a firearm, extended magazine, and 9mm ammunition from a Federal Firearms Licensee in Woodbridge through a straw purchaser. On March 2, 2023, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) arrested Burgess pursuant to a federal warrant. During a search incident to his arrest, investigators recovered from Burgess’s person at least 40 grams of cocaine base, a Schedule II substance; pills containing Fentanyl; and $1,453 in cash. Investigators also recovered a loaded 9mm handgun with extended magazine, a scale, two cell phones, and empty drug packaging material in his hotel room.

Burgess was ordered to forfeit the firearm and all accompanying magazines and ammunition that were seized at the time of his arrest.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Toni M. Crosby, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Baltimore Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

Baltimore City Police Department provided significant assistance in this case.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen McCarthy and Brittney Dimond, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Walutes, Jr. prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-93.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Fairfax man pleaded guilty today to receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), receipt of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, and possession of CSAM.

According to court documents, since at least April 2018, James Andrew Whitney, 62, used an Internet‑based peer‑to‑peer file‑sharing service to seek out and download video and image files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12. Moreover, as early as April 2010, Whitney used the CSAM he downloaded to create projects in which he photoshopped prepubescent, naked minor females into photographs around his residence and narrated a sexual encounter between himself and the minor victims. Whitney also used the file‑sharing service to seek out and download obscene, computer‑generated material depicting, among other scenes, the abduction of a child from a playground and subsequent rape of that minor.

Whitney is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment for each charge. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the plea.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe are prosecuting the case.

The forensic examiners of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section’s High Technology Investigative Unit provided significant assistance in this case.

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

This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-124.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Manassas man and a Bealeton man were sentenced today to a combined 6 years in prison for engaging in a joint scheme to defraud banks and the Small Business Administration of over $7 million in COVID relief funds.

According to court documents, from approximately April 2020 to March 2021, Bennie Earl Magee, 55, falsified payroll records, created fake IRS business tax returns, and submitted to lenders and the SBA falsified revenue reports of multiple companies to obtain over $7 million in PPP and EIDL loans for himself and others. Michael Gilcher, 46, obtained $1.4 million of the total, but wrote checks back to Magee’s company, Bull Run Capital, totaling approximately $620,000. Magee also involved another individual in the scheme and proposed the fraud to yet others. Magee used over $5 million of the PPP fraud proceeds to invest in crypto currency, to purchase vehicles, and to pay other personal and business expenses.

“PPP and EIDL loans were created to assist those financially effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Magee and Mr. Glicher not only lied to the IRS and stole millions of taxpayer funds, but frivolously spent it on items such as vehicles and cryptocurrency,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “EDVA will continue to work with the SIGPR and other law enforcement partners to prosecute those who take advantage of all of us.”

Magee was sentenced to 5 years and Gilcher was sentenced to 1 year in prison for their roles in the conspiracy.

“This prosecution and investigation resulted in the sentencing of two individuals responsible for defrauding the taxpayers of millions of dollars by abusing federal programs designed to bring relief to struggling small businesses that were hit hard by the pandemic,” said Brian Miller, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. “SIGPR is glad to have played a significant role teaming with the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office to hold these individuals accountable.”

"At a time when many small businesses were trying to keep their doors open and support their employees, these fraudsters chose to lie and steal from small business relief programs to line their own pockets," said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz, Chair of the PRAC. "Today's sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the Inspector General community and federal prosecutors to bring to justice those who brazenly stole money from taxpayers. We appreciate the partnership with the investigating agents, the FBI, and U.S. Attorney Aber to protect COVID-19 relief funds for the public."

“Today’s sentencings are an example of the continued commitment of the FBI to identify and hold to account those who engaged in COVID relief fraud,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.  “Magee and Glicher engaged in a joint scheme to defraud banks and the Small Business Administration of over $7 million in COVID relief funds. Even years after COVID relief funds were distributed, the FBI and our partners continue to investigate these schemes which defrauded the government and stole from taxpayers.”

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR); and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.

This case was investigated by a SIGPR agent assigned to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 21 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from 16 Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell L. Carlberg and Kathleen Robeson prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:23-cr-86 and 1:23-cr-91.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 6 years in prison for selling machine gun conversion devices.

According to court documents, Marcus Bushnell, 37, was illegally selling cocaine, firearms and machine gun conversion devices. These devises are classified as machine guns and allow for the conversion of Glock handguns into fully automatic firearms. In November 2021, law enforcement purchased these machine gun conversion devices from the defendant on more than one occasion. Bushnell is a convicted felon and was previously a member of the Bloods gang.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.

This case is part of a larger Organized Crime and Drug Task Force (OCDETF) investigation occurring on the Virginia Peninsula. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-4.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while living in Mexico and acting as a manager for a Sinaloa, Mexico, drug trafficking organization (DTO).

According to court documents, between approximately 2016 and 2018, Victor Hugo Hinojosa-Elizondo, 55, was involved in and a manager of an international DTO responsible for distributing over 40 pounds of highly pure Mexican-made methamphetamine to cities throughout the United States, including Los Angeles, California; Providence, Rhode Island; and Norfolk.

The Sinaloa-based organization is responsible for manufacturing, importing, and distributing large amounts of highly pure methamphetamine using couriers, while running international meth operations in the United States from Mexico. Two conspirators, Hinojosa-Elizondo and Luis Enrique Soto-Ferro, 47, were extradited from Mexico to the United States last year after a lengthy international extradition process.

Soto-Ferro was sentenced in Norfolk last month to 15 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while living in Mexico and acting as a leader for the organization. The District Court in Norfolk also sentenced two couriers for the organization, Irana Carmago-Lugue, 38, to 10 years in prison, and Jorge Alberto Perez-Miramontes, 41, to 11 years in prison.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk’s Commonwealth’s Attorney; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the government of Mexico to secure the arrests and extraditions in this case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Stolle prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-85.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today to coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, in April 2023, James Wentworth, 31, engaged in multiple sex acts with a minor. Law enforcement additionally discovered an email address Wentworth used to exchange sexually explicit messages with the minor. The emails included discussions regarding Wentworth’s intentions to use sex toys, bondage rope, and bondage tape to restrain the minor during sex acts. The emails further included directions for the minor to delete emails they had previously exchanged.

Wentworth is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after U.S. Elizabeth Wilson Hanes accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Taylor is prosecuting the case.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-98.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Phoenix, Arizona, couple pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute multiple controlled substances including heroin, methamphetamine, and para-fluorofentanyl over the darknet.

According to court documents, from approximately January 2021 through May 2023, Cheerish Noel Taylor, 36, and Robert James Fischer, 35, ran the darknet monikers “SafeServe,” “Sky_HIGH,” and others across multiple darknet markets. On these markets, the co-conspirators advertised and sold various controlled substances, including crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, Xanax, Adderall, suboxone, and counterfeit pills that the conspirators advertised as oxycodone but that instead were laced with para-fluorofentanyl, a dangerous fentanyl analogue. During the course of the conspiracy, the conspirators made over 1,100 sales of controlled substances over the darknet using these accounts.

The darknet, also called the darkweb, is a portion of the Internet that hosts darknet markets, or hidden commercial websites. A darknet market operates as a black market, selling or brokering transactions involving legal products, as well as drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, stolen credit card details, forged documents, unlicensed pharmaceuticals, steroids, and other illicit goods.

Fischer and Taylor sold counterfeit oxycodone pills, which they marketed as “pressed m30s” and “blues,” knowing that they did not contain oxycodone, and instead contained fentanyl or a fentanyl analogue. Within the product description for the purported “blues,” the defendant’s darknet vendor page on the site ASAP Market stated that “These are not reg M30s they are PRESSED and are very strong…seasoned users only please.” In another listing for the purported “blues,” the defendants advertised “small fine print: these are NOT from a pharmacy they are PRESSED from Mexico. Seasoned users Only because these are strong AF not for those who are freshly using.”

Fischer and Taylor sold other drugs on the darknet that they advertised as being legitimate, pharmaceutically, produced drugs. For example, the two sold what they described as “pharmaceutical Adderall’ for over $13 per pill.

The two shipped controlled substances nationwide through the United States Postal Service, and attempted to disguise the controlled substances within packages amidst dollar-store goods, such as children’s stickers, beads, birthday cards, and seasonal gift items. At times, the controlled substances were hidden inside of toy packaging.

Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8. She faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. Fischer is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2024. He also faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis III accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Call is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-112.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Concord, California, woman was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for her leading role in a conspiracy to defraud at least five states of more than $3.5 million in pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits.

“Huffman organized a massive VEC fraud conspiracy and abused her position as a federal employee to steal funds meant for those struggling with employment security and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber. “To add insult to injury, when her time came to be held accountable at her initial sentencing hearing, she fled from the law. I am grateful today for the efforts of our law enforcement and prosecutorial team in ensuring Huffman and her co-defendants face the consequences of their selfish actions.”

“While employed with the federal government, Heather Ann Huffman led a criminal conspiracy to steal more than $2 million in pandemic-related unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, betraying the public trust and depriving benefits to those who desperately needed assistance during an unprecedented time of financial hardship,” stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG). “As the primary law enforcement agency charged with investigating fraud against the UI program, DOL-OIG is committed to working relentlessly to protect the integrity of these vital benefits from those seeking to unlawfully enrich themselves at the expense of American workers affected by the pandemic. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – OIG, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Virginia Employment Commission, for their strong partnership and collaboration in this investigation.”

According to court documents, from April 2020 through at least March 2021, Heather Huffman, 52, lead and organized several others, including family members and close friends, in a conspiracy to defraud at least five state workforce agencies, including the Virginia Employment Commission, the Washington State Employment Security Department, and the California Employment Development Department, of more than $3.5 million in unemployment insurance benefits. Huffman’s conspiracy specifically targeted benefits that had been expanded to offset the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain these benefits, Huffman and others filed false and misleading applications in the names of identity theft victims, witting co-conspirators, and inmates of state and federal prisons. Among other information, Huffman and her conspirators included in these applications materially false wage and employment histories and false contact information, such as physical and mailing addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers, that did not, in fact, belong to the purported applicants. 

To further their conspiracy, Huffman and others obtained and shared among themselves the personal identifying information (PII) of others, created and maintained email accounts purportedly belonging to those individuals, and falsified and forged various documents—including state and federal wage and tax forms—to substantiate the information they had included in the false benefit applications. Conspirators also identified nominee addresses in each of the targeted states at which they falsely claimed the purported applicants lived and worked. Conspirators then directed the targeted states to send benefit payments to prepaid debit cards mailed to various addresses in Virginia, including Huffman’s former residential addresses. As the conspiracy progressed, Huffman also opened a P.O. Box in the name of a fictitious non-profit, “Heather’s Homeless Services,” to which she thereafter directed the targeted states to mail the prepaid debit cards. Huffman, who was then employed as a registered nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center in Richmond, used her work computer to research available benefits, file and access claims, and falsify documents in furtherance of the conspiracy. 

In total, Huffman and her conspirators submitted more than 220 applications in the names of more than 120 individuals to at least five different states through which they sought to receive more than $3.5 million and actually obtained more than $2 million.

Huffman’s sentencing was originally scheduled for November 29, 2022, but she failed to appear that day without notice or explanation.  Prior to her disappearance, Huffman took measures to flee prosecution and conceal her whereabouts, including depleting her bank accounts, selling her vehicle, and turning her phone off. Through means unknown, Huffman obtained the PII of a real person, assumed that person’s identity, and procured counterfeit government identification and credit cards in the name of her false alias. Following Huffman’s disappearance, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) opened a fugitive investigation. This extensive, months-long investigation uncovered evidence that the defendant, under a false identity, was living and working as a registered nurse in Kansas.  On March 4, 2023, approximately 95 days after Huffman’s flight from prosecution, she was apprehended by the USMS in Kansas at an Extended Stay hotel.

Huffman is the last of the defendants to be sentenced in this case.  See the table below for additional information on the sentences imposed in this case.

Name

Age

Residence

Convictions

Total Sentence

Heather A. Huffman

54

Concord, California

Conspiracy to Commit Mail & Wire Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft

216 months

Sheldon L. Huffman

31

Richmond, Virginia

Conspiracy to Commit Mail & Wire Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft

60 months

Dorothea Rosado

54

Kennesaw, Georgia

Conspiracy to Commit Mail & Wire Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft

36 months

Anthowan Daniels

35

Richmond, Virginia

Conspiracy to Commit Mail & Wire Fraud; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

42 months

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Kim. R. Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge, Mid-Atlantic Field Office, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. imposed the sentence.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia expresses its appreciation to the USMS for their assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin G. Cooke, Kashan Pathan, and Mike C. Moore prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-8.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned an indictment today charging a former FBI contractor with sexual exploitation of children.   

According to court documents, Brett Janes, 26, of Arlington, Virginia, allegedly contacted roughly a dozen minor boys over Discord and Snapchat. He allegedly groomed the minors by telling them he worked for a U.S. intelligence agency before repeatedly threatening suicide if the minors did not continue to communicate with him. Janes allegedly enticed one victim, a 13-year-old boy whom he met through the first-person shooter game Valorant, to strip and masturbate over a live video Discord call by threatening to kill himself and by paying him money over CashApp. He allegedly enticed a 12-year-old boy to create and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM) over Discord through flattery and repeated begging.

Janes allegedly received child sexual abuse material from these two minors, as well as two separate minor victims, and attempted to meet up with a minor. He also allegedly purchased hundreds of videos and images of child sexual abuse material from Telegram.   

Janes is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and production of CSAM, one count of attempted coercion and enticement, and one count of receipt of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Arlington County Chief of Police, Charles “Andy” Penn, made the announcement.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney McKenzie Hightower is prosecuting the case.

Any individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been victimized by Janes are encouraged to contact the FBI at 202-278-2000 and ask to speak to the child exploitation and human trafficking task force.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-140.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned an indictment today charging a former FBI contractor with sexual exploitation of children.

According to court documents, Brett Janes, 26, of Arlington, Virginia, allegedly contacted roughly a dozen minor boys over Discord and Snapchat. He allegedly groomed the minors by telling them he worked for a U.S. intelligence agency before repeatedly threatening suicide if the minors did not continue to communicate with him. Janes allegedly enticed one victim, a 13-year-old boy whom he met through the first-person shooter game Valorant, to strip and masturbate over a live video Discord call by threatening to kill himself and by paying him money over CashApp. He allegedly enticed a 12-year-old boy to create and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM) over Discord through flattery and repeated begging. Janes allegedly received child sexual abuse material from these two minors, as well as two separate minor victims, and attempted to meet up with a minor. He also allegedly purchased hundreds of videos and images of child sexual abuse material from Telegram.

Janes is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and production of CSAM, one count of attempted coercion and enticement, and one count of receipt of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Arlington County Chief of Police Charles “Andy” Penn made the announcement.

The FBI and Arlington County Police are investigating the case.

Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section is prosecuting the case.

Any individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been victimized by Janes are encouraged to contact the FBI at 202-278-2000 and ask to speak to the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

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

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

RICHMOND, Va. – A Freeman man had his initial appearance today on charges of wire fraud, filing a false tax return, tax evasion, and making false statements to a financial institution.  

According to the indictment, Howard Lee Stith Jr., 41, allegedly perpetrated a scheme to defraud elderly homeowners in the Richmond Metro area by appearing at their homes and claiming that their slate roofs needed extensive repairs, which Stith offered to provide on a price-per-foot or price-per-material basis. Thereafter, Stith purported to provide the promised services, but, in truth, Stith performed minimal work of poor quality while charging homeowners exorbitant fees. Allegedly, Stith targeted the same homeowners over months and years, returning unsolicited and claiming the homeowners’ roofs needed further repairs. To substantiate the excessive amounts he charged, Stith allegedly created false invoices and misleading receipts, which he provided to various homeowners. From at least 2015 through the present time, Stith is alleged to have fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million from elderly homeowners in connection with this scheme.

According to allegations in the indictment, Stith failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the income he obtained from this scheme by filing a false tax return in 2018; failing to file tax returns in 2019, 2020, and 2021; and taking affirmative acts to evade the assessment of income tax between 2019 and 2021. Specifically, Stith allegedly directed homeowners to pay him by personal check and then conducted a series of transactions to convert the check into cash without making deposit records. Having thereby concealed the nature and source of his income, Stith thereafter dealt heavily in cash. After learning he was under federal investigation, Stith allegedly began directing homeowners to write personal checks to others to further conceal his receipt of such payments. Through this conduct, Stith evaded the assessment of income tax in the alleged amount of at least $575,000 for tax years 2018 through 2021. 

According to further allegations in the indictment, Stith also used cash from his roofing scheme to make large payments on high end cars. When applying to finance some of these vehicles with a local credit union, Stith is alleged to have prepared and provided false tax returns that reported significantly more income than he had claimed in the returns filed with the IRS for those same years. As a result, the credit union approved and funded multiple loans totaling at least $130,000.

Finally, according to the allegations, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stith applied for and received relief funds to which he was not actually entitled. First, Stith applied for multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) on behalf of various businesses, including a roofing business. These applications included materially false statements about each business’s gross income and number of employees. Based on these material misrepresentations, Stith obtained at least $112,000 in EIDL funds to which he was allegedly not entitled. Stith also applied for and received at least $13,000 in unemployment insurance benefits (UI), allegedly falsely claiming that he was not working, not self-employed, and not receiving money from any source. It is alleged that Stith received tens of thousands of dollars from elderly homeowners during the period in which he falsely claimed entitlement to unemployment. 

Stith is charged with wire fraud, filing a false tax return, evading the assessment of income tax, failing to file income tax returns, and making false statements to a financial institution. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kyo Dolan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office; Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin G. Cooke and Kashan K. Pathan are prosecuting the case.

Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.

Anyone who believes they have been harmed by Stith’s criminal actions may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Coordinator by calling 804-819-7429. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-110.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The United States Attorney’s Office announced a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Consulate Management Company, III, LLC (CMC), which manages 48 skilled nursing facilities.

The settlement agreement resolves allegations that a nursing facility managed by CMC had denied admission to an individual who is deaf because she would need sign language interpreting services. The ADA prohibits covered entities from excluding individuals with disabilities from their services because they require auxiliary aids or services, such as a sign language interpreter. The remedial terms of the settlement agreement apply to each of the nursing facilities managed by CMC.

To resolve this complaint, CMC agreed to pay $40,000 to the individual that was denied admission and a $50,000 civil penalty. CMC also agreed to make significant changes to the policies and procedures at the nursing facilities it manages. CMC will adopt new ADA policies at all 48 of the nursing facilities it manages. These policies will make the nursing facilities’ services accessible to individuals with communication disabilities, including those who require the services of a sign language interpreter. CMC will also designate an ADA Administrator, who will be responsible for ensuring each facility’s compliance with the ADA; enter into agreements with sign language interpreting service providers to provide services to individuals who need them; and provide training for its personnel on the ADA’s effective communication requirements.

Nursing facilities are an essential component of the healthcare system, as they provide sub-acute healthcare services, including post-hospitalization and long-term care. This settlement agreement ensures that several thousand additional nursing facility beds are accessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Gordon, who is the Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The civil claims settled by this ADA agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.

This office recently circulated a Dear Colleagues Letter reminding healthcare providers of the ADA’s effective communication requirements, identifying common issues that arise in these cases, and providing practical steps that healthcare providers can take to comply with the ADA.  Additionally, the Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities in complying with the ADA, including Effective Communication, and a Business Brief on Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings.  For more information on the ADA and to access these publications, visit http://www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Leesburg man was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for selling at least nine firearms, for a profit and without a license, that he originally purchased from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in the Eastern District of Virginia.

According to court documents from approximately June 17, 2021, through June 25, 2022, in Loudoun County, James Banville, 33, willfully engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. During this period, the defendant purchased 18 firearms from FFLs and illegally sold at least nine of those firearms. To date, law enforcement has recovered three firearms originally purchased by Banville from crime scenes. Of those three, one firearm was recovered by D.C. Metro Police and was loaded with an extended magazine. Another firearm was recovered in New York City following a foot pursuit of a suspect by officers of the New York Police Department.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis, III.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Patterson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-54.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Glen Allen man pleaded guilty today to a wire fraud charge arising from his operation of an online retail business.

According to court documents, from approximately August 2020 through July 2021, Justin Lee Godsey, 26, ran "Sneak Foot," an online retailer that primarily sold athletic shoes through a website. When customers purchased shoes from Sneak Foot, the sales were managed by two credit card processing companies who had entered into agreements with Sneak Foot. The processors were obligated to refund the money sent to Sneak Foot through them if Godsey failed to deliver shoes ordered. Godsey consistently pocketed funds paid to him by customers without sending them the shoes, and used the funds for various personal expenditures, including the purchase of a Lamborghini. The losses incurred by the two credit card processors exceed $870,000.

Godsey is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Robert C. Young accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-58.

RICHMOND, Va. – Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), today announced the awarding of over $250,000 in grant funding for Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) initiatives.

“Violence in our community has many causes,” said Aber. “Criminal prosecution of violent offenders is only one solution. As a result, we emphasize violence prevention and intervention programs and support them with federal resources. The grants awarded through our PSN program will go directly to fostering local efforts that tackle those root causes.”

In May, EDVA announced the continued availability of grant funding for PSN initiatives. On June 22 the PSN Grant Committee selected three applicants to receive funds: the RVA League for Safer Streets; Project Safe, Alive, and Free (SAF); and Parents Against Bullying Virginia (PABVA).

RVA League for Safer Streets will receive $54,340 for their Midnight Basketball League program in Richmond where youth will be engaged in workshops on topics such as conflict resolution before playing basketball together.

Project SAF will receive $56,500 to support a Group Violence Intervention effort in Hopewell and the surrounding Tri-Cities area that pairs community violence intervention methods and intense life coaching with a trauma-based violence intervention program. This program also works collaboratively with Assistant United States Attorneys from EDVA’s Richmond Division.

PABVA will receive $160,333 to support anti-bullying programs in the Newport News public school system including “Girl & Gent Talk” group sessions with at-risk youth and the STAR Bright Kidz Puppet program.

PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

In addition to PSN efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in support of the Richmond Police Department’s Safe Summer initiative by collaborating on investigations and aggressively pursuing charges against defendants identified as meeting these criteria and pushing for appropriately accountable sentences.

These efforts are in line with the Department of Justice’s summer anti-violent crime strategy, which includes reinforcing the importance of identifying, investigating, and prioritizing the prosecution of those who are responsible for the greatest violence in our communities.

In the fall, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia anticipates that it will announce the availability of approximately $500,000 in PSN grant funding. The PSN Grant Committee is currently prioritizing three regions impacted most by violent crime—Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk—but will evaluate grant applications from across the Eastern District.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Glendale, Arizona, man was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for distributing fentanyl-laced pills and crystal meth on the darknet.

According to court documents, Justin Udvardi, 30, operated several darknet vendor pages using the moniker “TrapGod.” For a period of at least two years, he used the darknet to make hundreds of narcotics sales to people around the country, including crystal methamphetamine, MDMA, and counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. He also trafficked in stolen credit card information, and materials that assist fraudsters in creating fraudulent identification documents. Between September 2021 and September 2022, undercover law enforcement agents located in the Eastern District of Virginia conducted several controlled purchases of either crystal meth or fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills from Udvardi. Together, these orders contained more than 120 grams of pure methamphetamine and more than 250 pills containing fentanyl. Udvardi used USPS Priority Mail envelopes to ship the narcotics from Arizona to locations in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The darknet, also called the darkweb, is a portion of the Internet that hosts darknet markets or hidden commercial websites. A darknet market operates as a black market, selling or brokering transactions involving legal products as well as drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, stolen credit card details, forged documents, unlicensed pharmaceuticals, steroids, and other illicit goods.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-225.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Manassas man was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, Anthony Benton, 21, initially came to the attention of law enforcement when he bought child sexual abuse material, including videos depicting the sexual abuse of children who appear to be as young as 5 years old, over Telegram. A residential search warrant was executed at his home and law enforcement discovered that Benton had used Omegle, a live video application, to consistently produce child pornography since 2020.

Benton engaged in sexual live video calls with approximately 1,000 girls ranging in age from 7 to 17 years old. He screen-recorded and saved approximately 72 of those videos without the minor victims knowing. Within these videos, Benton can be seen texting a 10-year-old minor, deceiving her by saying he was 15 years old and then, when she revealed her age, promising their sexual conversation was, “[J]ust between us.” 

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney McKenzie Hightower and Trial Attorney for the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-87.

A Virginia man was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, Anthony Benton, 21, formerly of Manassas, came to the attention of law enforcement when he bought child sexual abuse material, including videos depicting the sexual abuse of children who appear to be as young as 5 years old, over Telegram. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home and discovered that Benton had used Omegle, a live-streaming video application, to regularly produce child sexual abuse material for about three years beginning in 2020. Benton engaged in sexual conversations in live video calls with approximately 1,000 girls ranging in age from 7 to 17 years old. In some of those calls, he enticed the girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He screen-recorded and saved approximately 72 videos without the minor victims’ knowledge. One of the videos shows Benton texting a 10-year-old minor to deceive her into believing that he was 15 years old. When she revealed her age, Benton promised their conversation was “just between us.”

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement.

HSI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case.

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

RICHMOND, Va. – A Chester man pleaded guilty today to mail fraud for embezzling over $1.9 million from his employer.

According to court documents, between 2015 and 2023, Bahram Khosropanah, 65, devised and repeatedly executed a scheme to misappropriate technology assets from his employer for his own personal gain. Khosropanah held senior positions at a Richmond-based company that operates convenience stores across the country. His role focused on information technology, and he was responsible for purchasing computers and other electronics for the company. Upon receiving invoices for certain purchases, Khosropanah made unauthorized material modifications to the invoices before submitting them to his accounting department for approval. 

Through these modifications, Khosropanah was able to misappropriate computers and electronics and conceal his misappropriations. He then sold the misappropriated assets on eBay and to a third-party wholesaler without the knowledge or consent of his employer. The defendant sold approximately 850 laptops and other electronics, causing a loss of over $1.9 million to his employer. Khosropanah used the proceeds from the fraudulent sales to purchase luxury cars, including a Ferrari.

Khosropanah is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Summer L. Speight accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Day and Kashan K. Pathan are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-95.