Eastern District of Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man pleaded guilty today to mail theft.

According to court documents, Stephen Allen Booker, 28, along with other accomplices, stole from the blue USPS collection boxes located at the Westhampton Post Office in Richmond. On December 19, 2022, law enforcement was conducting surveillance on the Westhampton collection boxes based on previous, known incidents of theft from the blue collection boxes earlier that month. During the surveillance, officers observed a gray GMC vehicle, bearing Virginia license plates, enter the Westhampton Post Office parking lot in front of the blue collection boxes. Two individuals exited the vehicle, opened the blue collection boxes, removed the mail matter contained within the boxes, dumped the mail in a trash bag, and drove off. Law enforcement was able to confirm that this vehicle was registered to Booker.

When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Booker initially pulled over, then fled in his vehicle resulting in a high-speed chase. Law enforcement officers were unsuccessful in apprehending Booker and his passenger that day. Booker was later arrested at his residence and a lawful search was conducted. The search revealed that Booker was in possession of checks and credit cards belonging to other individuals.

Booker is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13, 2023. He faces 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; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Rick Edwards, Acting Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Hannah M. Lauck accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Mansfield 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-036.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Fredericksburg man was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution for conspiring to obtain pandemic unemployment benefits (UI) and his role in his sister’s mail theft and bank fraud scheme.

According to court documents, from in or about May 2020 through in or about January 2022, Eric Wilhoit, II, 29, conspired with Odyssey Wilhoit, 23, Jeremiah Wilhoit, 26, Dejhaun Wilhoit, 26, and others to obtain pandemic unemployment benefits. Eric Wilhoit, Odyssey Wilhoit, and Dejahun Wilhoit are family members.  They conspired to apply for pandemic unemployment benefits in their own names and in the names of others, many of whom were identity theft victims. Eric Wilhoit admitted that he instructed his co-conspirators on how to make the claims. The group then used VPNs and false or anonymized email addresses in an attempt to hide the fraud.

Additionally, each member of the conspiracy recruited others to use their physical addresses to receive the prepaid debit cards that contained the unemployment benefits. Eric Wilhoit and his co-conspirators made significant cash withdrawals from the prepaid debit cards, bought luxury goods, and at least one firearm with the benefits. Specifically, Eric Wilhoit purchased a diamond ring, while his sister Odyssey Wilhoit purchased a Chanel purse, Louboutin shoes, along with many other items. The loss associated with the unemployment fraud scheme impacting the Virginia Unemployment Commission was over $1.7 million.

While attempting to flee his arrest, Eric Wilhoit led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, resulting in him crashing his car with his minor children in the backseat.

Separately, Odyssey Wilhoit ran her own mail theft and bank fraud scheme in which she conspired with Eric Wilhoit, Jeremiah Wilhoit, Dejhaun Wilhoit, and others, including Jaleai Morrison, 23, of Temple, Georgia. According to court documents, Morrison obtained a master U.S. Postal key and would steal checks from a U.S. Postal collection box, one of which was located in Arlington, and provide the checks or personal information from the checks to Odyssey Wilhoit. Odyssey Wilhoit used the information to create counterfeit checks, which she would then deposit into bank accounts and later withdraw or transfer to cash applications once the funds cleared. After her conspiracy with Morrison ended, Odyssey Wilhoit obtained the U.S. Postal key and continued to steal mail from the U.S. Postal collection boxes. Her bank fraud scheme continued through at least July 2022. During the investigation, law enforcement discovered hundreds of stolen checks, which when altered totaled over $850,000.

On January 25, 2023, Jaleia Morrison was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, and three years of supervised release for her role in the mail theft and bank fraud scheme. On April 26, 2023, Odyssey Wilhoit was sentenced to 75 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release. On May 3, 2023, both Dejhaun and Jeremiah Wilhoit were sentenced to 66 months of imprisonment and to three years and five years of supervised release respectively. Odyssey Wilhoit, Dejhaun Wilhoit, and Jeremiah Wilhoit were also ordered to pay restitution and consented to the forfeiture of certain assets.

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; Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the National Capital Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police provided significant assistance in this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Shartar and Christopher Hood 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. 1:22-cr-191 and 1:22-cr-177.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison for possessing and selling unregistered machineguns and possessing unregistered destructive devices.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, between approximately October 2021 and April 2022, Patrick Tate Adamiak, 28, was obtaining illegal machine guns that were not registered and he was selling these machine guns online. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) purchased eight machine guns from him through a confidential source. They then executed a search warrant at Adamiak’s residence and recovered 25 additional unregistered firearms. A search warrant at his residence found that Adamiak was in possession of two grenade launchers and two antitank missile launchers. Adamiak is a Master at Arms in the U.S. Navy.

Adamiak was convicted after a four-day jury trial on October 21, 2022. Evidence presented at sentencing further revealed that Adamiak engaged in the unregulated sale and transfer of firearms beginning in at least 2016. Adamiak had just begun to make greater profits from his business, Black Dog Arsenal, when his firearms trafficking was discovered by law enforcement.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig B. Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu and Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Muhr 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-47.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News woman pleaded guilty today to illegally obtaining and possessing a firearm and making a false statement on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form to purchase the firearm.

“It is clear from this case that enforcement of our existing federal firearm laws is critical to ensuring public safety,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Federal requirements for firearm ownership are not optional and exist to protect owners, their family members, and the communities where they live. Failing to abide by those requirements when purchasing or possessing a firearm can have far-reaching consequences.”

“The safety of our communities is one of my utmost concerns and our efforts will always reflect that. I want to be clear, anyone that is an unlawful user of or addicted to controlled substances such as marijuana are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law,” said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Craig B. Kailimai. “ATF will continue to collaborate with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure that people who violate this condition of firearm ownership are held accountable for their actions.”

According to court documents, on January 6, 2023, a six-year-old male child, John Doe, shot and severely injured a first grade Richneck Elementary School teacher with a Taurus, Model PT111, G2A, 9mm, semiautomatic handgun. Shortly thereafter, agents from the ATF conducted a trace on the firearm used in that incident, which revealed that the firearm was purchased by Deja Nicole Taylor, 25, on July 19, 2022. On January 19, federal agents executed a court-ordered search of Taylor’s home, during which agents discovered narcotics packaging, narcotics paraphernalia, marijuana, marijuana edible packaging, a box of ammunition, and a black firearm barrel lock. Agents also searched the home of Taylor’s mother, where Taylor was residing at the time, and found approximately 24.5 grams of marijuana, marijuana edible packaging, and marijuana paraphernalia. A search of Taylor’s phone revealed numerous text messages illustrating the pervasive scope of Taylor’s marijuana use. A lockbox was not found in either of the residences, nor was a trigger lock or key to a trigger lock ever found.

The investigation also uncovered a police report from the Williamsburg Police Department which stated that on Saturday April 3, 2021, Taylor was pulled over during a traffic stop in a vehicle with two other persons, including John Doe, who was four years old at the time. The Williamsburg Police officer conducting the stop detected an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and marijuana was in plain view inside the vehicle. Several marijuana edibles that looked like rice treats were found inside the vehicle directly next to John Doe. A backpack claimed by another person in the vehicle was found to contain numerous individually packaged marijuana rice treats, gummies containing THC, suspected crack cocaine, two large bags of marijuana, two packages of “BackpackBoyz” marijuana from California, suspected oxycodone pills, green plant material, a smoking device, and more edibles. Digital scales were also found inside the vehicle. Taylor’s purse was searched, and marijuana edibles and three unknown white pills were found. During that traffic stop, Taylor was advised of her Miranda rights, and she denied all knowledge of drugs inside the vehicle.

On July 19, 2022, Taylor purchased the Taurus handgun used in the shooting. She was required by law to complete the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Firearms Transaction Record, ATF Form 4473. She falsely stated on this form that she was not an unlawful user of marijuana or other controlled substances.

Taylor pleaded guilty to being an unlawful user of controlled substance in possession of a firearm and making a false statement during purchase of a firearm and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 18. She 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, and Craig B. Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa McKeel and Peter Osyf 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-45.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Saxis man pleaded guilty today to violating the Lacey Act related to his illegal harvest of striped bass.

According to court documents, Keith J. Martin, 52, was a commercial fisherman licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia to harvest striped bass. Between 2018 and 2020, Martin routinely violated Virginia state law in the harvesting of striped bass from Virginia waters. Martin took bass in excess of his quota, failed to report the amount of bass he took, and completed at least one sale of striped bass with a commercial purchaser without using a properly certified scale.

For instance, in 2018 and 2019 Martin had a quota of 4,010 pounds of striped bass. Investigators learned that Martin sold over 6,000 pounds of striped bass to a single seafood company in Maryland in 2018 and over 4,300 pounds to the same company in 2019. Martin’s harvesting of the striped bass in violation of Virginia law, coupled with transporting it in interstate commerce to Maryland, constitutes a violation of the Lacey Act. During the relevant period, Martin illegally harvested and sold at least 12,663 pounds of striped bass, constituting a commercial value of at least $36,988.25.

Martin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26. He faces 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 Edward Grace, Assistant Director of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Kosky 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. 2:23-cr-40.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to 27 years in prison, and a Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for their roles in a serial armed robbery crew.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Kareem Ross, 34 and Roshaun Griffin, 36, were members of a five-man armed robbery crew that were apprehended on March 18 after a high-speed pursuit through Virginia Beach following an attempted robbery of a Tiger Mart gas station. A pursuing Virginia Beach police cruiser’s dash camera captured the men throwing several loaded weapons from their car. Only after spike strips were deployed multiple times did the car finally come to a stop. All men were apprehended, and police recovered ski masks and gloves from inside their vehicle. The clothing and shoes each of them were wearing matched what could be seen in video surveillance from six prior armed robberies. Ross wore a NASA sweatshirt at the first two of six robberies. He was arrested wearing that same NASA sweatshirt.

The rental vehicle they were arrested in was traced back to the Norfolk Airport from where it was rented. One of the co-conspirators Marvin Lockhart, 32, was caught on the airport video wearing purple shoes was caught later that night on surveillance committing an armed robbery of the Jr. Market in Norfolk wearing purple shoes. One of the co-conspirators, Harold Spencer, 32, who shot at a fleeing customer during the second of six-armed robberies, took a “selfie” on his cell phone wearing a ski mask worn in all six robberies—a ski mask, which was recovered after the high-speed pursuit and later was shown to contain his DNA. His cell phone also contained photographs of his co-conspirator holding a handgun with a drum magazine, multiple Glock firearms consistent with those thrown from the fleeing vehicle, pictures of large sums of cash, and lottery tickets. Griffin participated in one of the earlier robberies and locked the door so the victims could not escape.

The armed robbery crew stole cash, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. Investigators from the Virginia Lottery received alerts from convenience stores where attempts were made by Spencer and Ross, to cash the stolen tickets. Investigators pulled the surveillance video from those attempts and identified both men. Additionally, through a shoe impression expert from the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, investigators were able to connect the shoes Spencer was arrested in with a lift of an impression made at the Arrowhead Food Mart he had robbed on March 5. Those shoes could be seen at all six armed robberies Spencer had committed.

Several months before to this conduct, one of the co-conspirators Jon Morgan, 32, had completed a prior prison sentence for armed robbery.

Spencer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 31 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on November 2, 2023. Morgan faces up to 125 months in prison when is sentenced on a date yet to be set. Marvin Lockhart, Jr., 32, of Virginia Beach faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 16 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on a date yet to be set. 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 Paul W. Neudigate, Chief of Police, Virginia Beach Police Department, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen accepted the verdict.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe DePadilla and John F. Butler 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. 2:20-cr-106. 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-106.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Loganville, Georgia, woman pleaded guilty today to her role in a bank fraud conspiracy.

According to court documents, Brianna Mills, 28, conspired with Stanley Desirade, Terrell Hale, and others to transfer, possess, and use wrongfully obtained identifying information— namely, names, social security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses—to make fraudulent withdrawals. From December 2015 to March 2016, Mills was a bank teller at Capital One Bank. Mills used her position as a bank teller to steal customer account information. Mills passed that information to her then-boyfriend, Desirade, who used that information to create fraudulent driver’s licenses. Those licenses were, in turn, used to fraudulently withdraw money from the customers’ accounts at Capital One Bank. The conspiracy attempted to steal almost $1.7 million and successfully defrauded banks of at least $650,000.

Mills is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25. She faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Mills is the second defendant in this case to plead guilty. Terrell Hale pled guilty on April 14, 2023 and will be sentenced on July 21, 2023. 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; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Matthew Stohler, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hood 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-40.

A federal grand jury indicted a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) lieutenant and a BOP registered nurse yesterday with violating the civil rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to the inmate’s serious medical needs, resulting in his death. 

The indictment alleges that on Jan. 9, 2021, Lieutenant Shronda Covington, 47, of Chesterfield, Virginia, and Registered Nurse Tonya Farley, 52, of Chesterfield, Virginia, were on duty and working in their official capacities at the Federal Correctional Institution at Petersburg, Virginia. On that day, they allegedly each willfully failed to ensure that the inmate, a 47-year-old man identified as W.W., was provided with necessary medical care, resulting in W.W.’s death, even though each knew that W.W. had serious medical needs. Farley is also charged with writing a false report about the incident, and Covington and Farley are each charged with making false statements to federal agents about the incident.

The civil rights charges each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, the false report charge carries a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and each false statement charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. 

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge Russell W. Cunningham of the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Washington Field Office made the announcement.

DOJ OIG investigated the case. 

Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Garnett for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.

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

RICHMOND, Va. – A federal grand jury indicted a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) lieutenant and a BOP registered nurse yesterday with violating the civil rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to the inmate’s serious medical needs, resulting in his death. 

The indictment alleges that on January 9, 2021, Lieutenant Shronda Covington, 47, of Chesterfield, and Registered Nurse Tonya Farley 52, of Chesterfield, were on duty and working in their official capacities at the Federal Correctional Institution at Petersburg, Virginia. On that day, they allegedly each willfully failed to ensure that the inmate, a 47-year-old man identified as W.W., was provided with necessary medical care, leading to W.W.’s death, even though each allegedly knew that W.W. had serious medical needs. Farley is also charged with writing a false report about the incident. Covington and Farley are each charged with making false statements to federal agents about the incident.

The civil rights charges each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, the false report charge carries a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and each false statement charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. 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; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Russell W. Cunningham, Special Agent in Charge of the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Washington Field Office, made the announcement.

DOJ OIG investigated the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Garnett and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section 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-68..

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

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Brambleton man was sentenced today to two years in prison for an oil, gas, and energy investment fraud scheme.

According to court documents, between January 2014 and August 2019, Ryan Riley, 50, a registered investment advisor, defrauded at least nine investors of approximately $434,100 by making false promises about oil, gas, and energy investments. Riley made false statements about promised returns, supposed partners, and specific wells and leases that had been identified for the projects he was pitching. He told investors that their funds were going to be used for oil, gas, and energy related projects. Over time, Riley told those victims that certain deals fell through, but that the victims’ investments would be converted to new oil, gas, and energy projects. However, despite Riley’s promises, he routinely transferred the funds to his personal accounts where he used the funds for other purposes including paying at least $149,000 towards his mortgage and making risky stock trades, which resulted in substantial losses.

As part of his sentence, Riley was ordered to pay $434,100 in forfeiture, $388,750 in restitution.

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 Leonie M. Brinkema.

The U.S. Attorney also commends the Philadelphia Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Virginia State Corporation Commission (VSCC), which conducted parallel civil investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly M. Shartar 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-43.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man pleaded guilty today to persuading a child to engage in unlawful sexual activity and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Timothy Desain, Jr. 40, distributed CSAM over a social media platform. On October 26, 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip from the social media platform and forwarded the tip to the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, who forwarded the tip to the FBI. A federal search warrant was issued for the home of Desain and electronic devices were seized. The search of his home also yielded containers of marijuana, scales, Garda deposit bags, and three firearms. During the investigation, it was uncovered that Desain exploited a minor. Desain also admitted to embezzling approximately $35,000 from Garda.

Desain pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a child and distribution of child pornography, and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten 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 Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa McKeel 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. 4:23-cr-23.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today to possessing a machine gun.

According to court documents, Trashawn Newsome, 21, was in possession of a machine gun on October 6, 2022. That day, Chesapeake Police officers were investigating a vehicle reported stolen in the vicinity of Camelot Boulevard. Newsome was observed speaking with the occupants of the stolen vehicle. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and ordered Newsome and another individual to the ground. The stolen vehicle fled the scene and Newsome walked back to his vehicle and put an item into the car through the driver’s side door before getting onto the ground. Officers observed a firearm magazine on the ground inches away from Newsome as he was being detained. A narcotics K9 conducted an open-air sniff around his vehicle and alerted to the front driver’s side door. Officers recovered from the vehicle approximately 120 grams marijuana; a scale; plastic baggies; and a Glock 22, Gen 4 semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine and an attached component that converted the handgun into a fully automatic gun.

Newsome is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30. He faces a maximum 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; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea.

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

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.

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-36.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 36 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Jonathan Wilson, 35, was identified as the result of parallel investigations by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Chesapeake Police Department. In early 2022, HSI identified Wilson after Belgian authorities reported he was distributing CSAM to a citizen in Belgium. Chesapeake Police found Wilson after Kik, a social media platform, reported he was uploading CSAM to his account. HSI and Chesapeake Police joined forces and executed a search warrant at Wilson’s residence in Chesapeake. Wilson was found to have been sexually abusing and filming the abuse of a toddler over a period of two years, from when the child was two years old to when she was four years old. Wilson was immediately arrested by Chesapeake Police and later by HSI. 

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Washington, D.C.; and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi 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. 2:22-cr-45.

RICHMOND, Va. – A North Carolina man pleaded guilty today to escaping from the Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville, Virginia.

According to court documents, Bruce Carroll Callahan, Jr., 44, was detained at the Piedmont Regional Jail pending trial on federal drug distribution and firearms charges in the Eastern District of North Carolina. On the night of April 30, 2023, Callahan left his housing unit though an unsecured door and scaled the fences surrounding the jail. He remained at large until he surrendered to local law enforcement officers in Farmville on the morning of May 8, 2023.

Callahan is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27. He faces a maximum penalty of five 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 Shannon Saylor, Acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Roderick 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-065.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Manassas and a Bealton man pleaded guilty today to 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, 54, 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. Gilcher, 45, obtained $1.4 million of the total, but wrote checks back to Magee’s company, Bull Run Capital, totaling approximately $620,000. Magee used the PPP funds to invest in crypto currency, home renovations, to purchase vehicles, and to pay other personal expenses.

Magee and Gilcher are scheduled to be sentenced on August 25. Magee faces a up to 20 years in prison, while Gilcher faces up to five 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 Brian Miller, Inspector General for the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR), made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea.

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

This case was investigated by an 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.

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.

RICHMOND, Va. –A Pennsylvania man and a Georgia man were each sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for participating in a fraud scheme causing millions of dollars in loss to victims.

According to court documents and testimony at hearings, from approximately September 2016 to March 2021, Carl Anthony McNeill, 59, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and Richard Thornhill Crock, 75, of Mableton, Georgia, along with other co-conspirators, ran an advance fee scheme targeting individuals, small businesses, churches, and other entities that could not obtain conventional lines of credit though 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 10-15% 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.

McNeill was ordered to pay over $5.8 million in restitution and Crock was ordered to pay over $2.4 million in restitution to victims. 

Co-defendants Jayson Ryman Colavalla and Ksyntoilious Miller are scheduled for sentencing on June 20 and July 11, respectively. They each face maximum sentences of 20 years in prison for their role in the conspiracy. 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 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. – A Belize City, Belize, man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering after laundering tens of millions of dollars of drug proceeds on behalf of notorious international drug trafficking organizations.

According to court documents, from at least 2014 and continuing through 2020, Jianxing Chen, 44, led and controlled a network of couriers who transported cash generated by the sale of cocaine throughout the United States – including Chicago,  Los Angeles, New York, as well as in the Eastern District of Virginia. At Chen’s direction, couriers transported drug money across the country to locations in New York City. From there it 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 is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29. 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.

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, and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea.

The DEA’s Louisville Division and the DEA’s Special Operations Division – Bilateral Investigations Unit investigated this 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, Omaha, Atlanta, Newark, Portland Dallas, Mexico City, Merida (Mexico), Guatemala City, Belmopan (Belize), Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta (Indonesia), Manila (Philippines), Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Lima (Peru), and Canberra (Australia). The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), the 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 National Targeting Center (CBP – National Targeting Center) were partners in the investigation of this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Peters and Rachael C. Tucker and Trial Attorneys Mary K. Daly and Stephen A. Sola of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of two Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). investigations known as Operation Dark Castle and Operation Taishan Triangle. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Los Angeles, California, man pleaded guilty today to fraud and identity theft charges in connection with stealing the identity of the owner of a Richmond auto shop, Lotsey & Hardy Tire Company.

According to court documents, around January 2022, Daniel Cruz, 30, obtained the owner’s personal information and used that information to take over the auto shop and its owner’s accounting software, bank accounts, email addresses, and phone numbers. Through approximately February 2023, armed with this sensitive information, Cruz re-routed calls placed to Lotsey & Hardy to his own phone, transferred money to his personal bank account from bank accounts of the shop and its owner, took out loans in the owner’s name, ordered and picked up auto parts in Los Angeles and billed them to the Richmond auto shop, and ordered auto parts by impersonating the shop’s owner. In all, the loss resulting from Cruz’s crimes totaled at least $34,514.87.

Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on August 31. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 consecutive years in prison for aggravated identity theft, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea Gibbons is prosecuting the case.

The Central Virginia Financial Crimes Task Force, created in 2022, is a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and representatives of local financial institutions. Co-chaired by the Richmond Field Office of the United States Secret Service and the Washington Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Task Force utilizes the knowledge and experience of its many partners to develop intelligence and pursue investigations into crimes that target or involve financial institutions located throughout the Central Virginia region.

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-32.

NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a man and woman last Friday night for their roles in a series of armed commercial robberies.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, between October 1, 2021, and November 15, 2021, Norfolk residents, Brandon D. Chavis, 36, and Melissa E. Beasley, 43, robbed 7-Elevens, Subway Sandwich Shops, and gas stations armed with a firearm. The jury received evidence related to 12 robberies or attempted robberies committed by Chavis and Beasley throughout the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Yorktown, and Portsmouth.

Beasley drove Chavis in her gray Volvo SUV to each robbery. Chavis wore a black hoodie, black mask, black gloves, dark jeans, brown work boots, and sometimes an orange reflective vest. Chavis entered the stores, brandished a firearm at the clerks, and fled to Beasley waiting in the getaway car. On one occasion, Beasley cashed one of the stolen lottery tickets just 33 minutes after Chavis robbed it from a Speedway. On November 15, 2021, during an interaction with Chavis and Beasley, Norfolk Police recovered the firearm Chavis used in the robberies and seized Beasley’s gray Volvo SUV.

Chavis and Beasley will be sentenced on September 27. 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; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police; Orin Gallop, Interim Chief of Hampton Police; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police; Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police; and Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes accepted the verdict.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Stolle and Assistant United States Attorney Joe Depadilla are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.

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-83.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography.

According to court documents, Richard Jerod Whitley, Jr., 37, was engaged in the on-line trading of child sexual abuse material. Attributed with thousands of images, some of Whitley’s collection contained sadistic and masochistic content as well as material with toddlers and infants engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Whitley was an elementary school bus driver and school aide at a Colonial Heights elementary school.

Whitley pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2023. He faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum 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 Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Osyf 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. 4:23-cr-27.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A criminal complaint has been filed charging a Fairfax man with assault of an employee of the United States engaged in the performance of official duties, which inflicted bodily injury.

According to allegations in the complaint, on May 15, Xuan-Kha Tran Pham, 49, entered the District Office of Congressman Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly in Fairfax with a baseball bat. At that time, a member of Congressman Connolly’s staff (Victim 1) was showing a a new intern (Victim 2), how to complete administrative tasks. Using the bat, Pham allegedly struck Victim 1 on the head, causing her to fall to the floor, and struck Victim 2 in the ribs. He then returned to hitting Victim 1, allegedly saying, “I’m going to kill you” and “you’re going to die.” Victim 1 estimated that the defendant struck her approximately eight times. At one point thereafter, Pham was allegedly heard yelling, “Gerry,” and that he wanted to “talk to Connolly” as he destroyed items in the office with his bat.

City of Fairfax Police Department officers responded to the scene, restrained Pham and placed him under arrest. Pham remains detained pending local charges being pursued by the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander E. Blanchard 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-mj-107.

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

RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico County man was sentenced yesterday to 19 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and fentanyl.

According to court documents, Hugh Mason, 41, possessed over 300 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl that he intended to distribute. Law enforcement agents executed search warrants at Mason’s primary residence in Henrico County and an apartment Mason utilized in in the City of Richmond.

During a court authorized search of Mason’s home on February 16, 2022, agents recovered over $28,000, drug trafficking paraphernalia, items used for preparing and packaging illegal controlled substances for resale, and a loaded FN 57, 5.7 caliber semiautomatic handgun. From the apartment in Richmond, agents recovered 315.63 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl, an additional 35.6 grams of heroin, ammunition and magazines for the FN 57 handgun, digital scales, and packaging materials used for packaging illegal drugs for distribution. Mason admitted that for over a year, he distributed and possessed with the intent to distribute at least 12 kilograms of cocaine and at least 3 kilograms of heroin. Mason, a convicted felon, also admitted that he possessed the FN 57 handgun to protect his drugs and drug proceeds and himself while engaged in drug trafficking.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael T. Weddel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division; and Rick Edwards, Acting Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia L. Norman 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-66.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. –  Four Northern Virginia MS-13 gang members were sentenced today to terms of imprisonment of 10 and 20 years for drug distribution, racketeering, and their roles in two attempted murders in Prince William County in 2019.

According to court documents, Roberto Cruz Moreno, 23, of Woodbridge, was a “pasa de homeboy,” and Marvin Torres, 22, of Manassas, was a “chequeo,” which are soldiers, in the Guanacos Lil Cycos (GLCS) clique of MS‑13; Kevin Perez Sandoval, 25, of Warrenton, was an “observacion,” which is a lower-level soldier in the GLCS clique; and Jose Rosales Juarez, 32, of Manassas, was a “paro,” which is an entry level member of the GLCS clique.

In March 2019, Cruz Moreno picked up three other GLCS gang members and a victim identified as E.P.A. and drove them to an isolated wooded area in Bristow, where one GLCS gang member shot E.P.A. multiple times and another stabbed E.P.A. in the neck and attempted to slit his throat. GLCS gang members believed E.P.A. had been disrespecting MS-13 and associating with a rival gang. Following the attempted murder, Cruz Moreno fled the scene with the three other GLCS participants and drove them to his residence. In April 2019, local law enforcement officers in Fairfax County found Cruz Moreno in possession of a firearm and several grams of packaged cocaine in his vehicle, along with three other GLCS gang members traveling with him in the vehicle. Cruz Moreno had earlier that day been selling cocaine on behalf of the clique.

In July 2019, Torres identified a victim, known as N.M.S., as a rival gang member in GLCS‑controlled territory and provided photographs of N.M.S. to fellow gang members. On August 3 and 4, 2019, Rosales Juarez surveilled N.M.S. at a restaurant in Manassas, and discussed plans to kill N.M.S. with GLCS’s First Word, or leader, Andy Tovar, 33, of White Post. Tovar is considered to be one of the highest-ranking MS-13 members in the United States. On Aug. 12, 2019, Tovar granted GLCS permission to kill N.M.S. That day, Perez Sandoval drove two members or associates of MS-13 to retrieve a firearm, a mask, and a change of clothes, then back to N.M.S.’s location where a member or associate of MS-13 shot him. Perez Sandoval then drove the associates from the scene of the shooting to Rosales Juarez’s residence. Rosales Juarez provided Perez Sandoval a different car to drive and rented a hotel room under his own name for the two other GLCS gang members involved in the attempted murder of N.M.S., in order to hinder law enforcement detection of those involved.

On February 4, 2022, Tovar pleaded guilty to each of the crimes with which he was charged in an indictment, including engaging in conspiracies to murder a victim identified as M.R.G. Tovar authorized GLCS gang members to kill M.R.G., and, on July 3, 2017, GLCS gang members traveled from Prince William County to Charlottesville to murder M.R.G because the GLCS clique believed M.R.G was a rival gang member. Following Tovar’s authorization, four GLCS gang members stabbed M.R.G to death over 140 times using knives and a machete before they dumped the victim’s body in a creek, burned his car, and fled back to Prince William County. On September 27, 2022, Tovar was sentenced to life imprisonment.

For their roles in the conspiracies, Cruz Moreno and Perez Sandoval were sentenced to 20 years in prison and Torres and Jose Rosales Juarez were sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division; Colonel Sean Reeves, Chief of Albemarle County Police; Douglas W. Keen, Chief of Manassas City Police; Peter Newsham, Chief of Prince William County Police; Amy Ashworth, Commonwealth Attorney for Prince William County; and Kevin Davis, Chief of Fairfax County Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Patterson and Amanda Lowe, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas U. Murphy, prosecuted the case.

These prosecutions are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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. 1:20-cr-18.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Chantilly man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, in May 2020, Francisco Burgos, Jr., 38, began chatting with an individual located in Australia about their sexual interest in children over a messaging and chat app. Burgos sent the individual a video depicting child sexual abuse material in exchange for two such videos from the individual, who was actively recording the sexual abuse of his own children. In September 2022, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) personnel searched Burgos’s hotel room and seized two cell phones containing child sexual abuse material that Burgos had shared using the WhatsApp application. Ultimately, law enforcement found 18 videos and 31 images of child sexual abuse material on the defendant’s phones.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, 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 Rossie D. Alston.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers 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. 1:22-cr-236.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Los Angeles, California, man was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for distributing over 50 grams of fentanyl and over 800 grams of methamphetamine in the Central Virginia region.

According to court documents, Mesuron Taylor, 38, plead guilty to one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl. On two separate occasions in May 2022, Taylor distributed a total of 59 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating source working for law enforcement in Richmond. During both distributions, Taylor, a previously-convicted felon, illegally possessed within his residence a Glock, Model 36; .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and a Ceska Zbrokovka, Model CZ97, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. On June 1, 2022, DEA and Richmond Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Taylor’s residence in the City of Richmond and recovered the two firearms, United States currency, and cutting agents.

As part of the conduct in this case, Taylor was also held responsible for his role in brokering the distribution of 843 grams of methamphetamine to a law enforcement cooperating source in September 2020. During that drug transaction, Taylor agreed to supply a large amount of methamphetamine to the cooperating source located in the Charlottesville area. Upon agreeing to supply the cocaine, Taylor arranged for a courier to transport 843 grams of methamphetamine from Richmond to the Charlottesville area. On September 3, 2020, law enforcement interdicted Taylor’s drug courier in Stuarts Draft, and recovered 843 grams of methamphetamine. Following the methamphetamine seizure, Taylor contacted the cooperating source asking details about the law enforcement interdiction, demanded payment for the seized methamphetamine, and discussed potential future drug deals.

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 Rick Edwards, Interim Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik S. Siebert and Stephen Anthony prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, Operation Overdrive. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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-86.

The Justice Department today announced the seizure of 13 domains used by Specially Designated Nationals (SNDs), Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), and their members associated with Lebanese Hezbollah.

According to court records, the United States obtained court authorization to seize five domains registered to the Public Interest Registry (PIR) – moqawama.org, almanarnews.org, manarnews.org, almanar-tv.org, and alshahid.org – and eight domains registered to Verisign Inc. – manartv.net, manarnews.net, almanar-tv.com, almanar-tv.net, alidaamouch.com, Ibrahim-alsayed.net, alemdad.net, and naimkassem.net. 

“Today’s web domain seizures deny terrorist organizations and affiliates significant sources of support and makes clear we will not allow these groups to use U.S. infrastructure to threaten the American people,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will continue to enforce economic sanctions as part of our commitment to deploy all available tools against threats from hostile nation-states and terrorist actors alike.”

“The Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) is at the forefront of ensuring that American internet infrastructure is unavailable for use by international terrorist organizations, their members and affiliates,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the EDVA. “The domains seized through this operation are controlled by individuals and entities engaged in planning or perpetrating acts of terrorism against Americans and thus are not lawfully permitted to use American infrastructure. Operations like this disrupt terrorist activity by blocking one avenue these groups and individuals use to gather support and influence.”

“This seizure demonstrates the FBI’s persistence in using all of our tools to hold accountable terrorists and their affiliates when they violate U.S. laws,” said Assistant Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “The FBI, along with our international partners, will continue to seek out those individuals who contribute to the advancement of Lebanese Hezbollah’s malign activities and ensure they are brought to justice, regardless of where, or how, they attempt to hide.”

“These court-authorized domain seizures reflect the FBI’s continued dedication to the fight against terrorism," said Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “Along with our federal and international partners, the FBI remains focused on proactively disrupting web domains controlled by Specially Designated Nationals – those who attempt to illegally utilize U.S. infrastructure to incite deadly violence against the United States and our allies to further the objectives of foreign terrorist organizations.”

“Today’s seizure reduces Hezbollah's ability to peddle their dangerous violent ideology across the globe,” said Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce.  “This coordinated enforcement action demonstrates that the U.S. Government will creatively use all available enforcement tools to thwart those who seek to perpetrate acts of terror.”

Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), SDNs and SDGTs, such as Lebanese Hezbollah, Al Manar TV, Ali Damush, Ibrahim al-Sayyid, Islamic Charitable Emdad Committee, Martyrs’ Foundation in Lebanon, Naim Qasim, and their members may not obtain services, including website and domain services, in the United States without a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). No such license was obtained for any of the 13 seized domains. 

Additionally, these 13 domains are subject to seizure as assets of entities and organizations engaged in planning or perpetrating acts of terrorism against the United States, its citizens and residents, and their property. These domains also afford a source of influence over those entities and organizations. The seizure of these domains will cut off that source of support and influence.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley of the FBI Atlanta Field Office and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod made the announcement.

The FBI and Department of Commerce investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Peters and Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia are representing the government in these matters, with valuable assistance provided by the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Bayonet Point, Florida, man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise.

According to court documents, Kyle William Leishear, 43, was a prominent member of the “Rapey.su” website, which was dedicated to, among other things, child sexual exploitation. After becoming a member of the website, Leishear enticed multiple minor victims, including one as young as 12-years-old, to produce and share sexually explicit images. Additionally, Leishear attempted to distribute child sexual abuse material on the Rapey website.

“I am grateful for the hard work of our agents and prosecutors to seek justice in this horrific case. These defendants caused immeasurable trauma on their victims, amplified by the groups online sharing of their abuse,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This case shows that internet anonymity will not protect offenders from facing full accountability for their illegal online conduct.”  

“We cannot and will not tolerate websites like Rapey.su that invite and encourage members to congregate, discuss, and engage in the sexual exploitation of children and young women, to memorialize this exploitation, and to distribute illegal sexually explicit images of the victims,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to rooting out these websites and bringing to justice those who join them for the purpose of perpetuating the victimization of some of the most vulnerable members of society.” 

“The actions of the four individuals in this case were nothing short of reprehensible,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. “They shamefully targeted the most vulnerable members of our community for their own perverse desires. HSI Washington, D.C. remains committed to protecting children from abuse and holding accountable those individuals who would victimize minors. HSI remains vigilant in watching for indicators of child exploitation throughout our communities.”

Leishear’s co-defendants were sentenced for their roles in the enterprise on April 25, 2023. Co-defendant Christopher William Kuehner, 38, of Bremerton, Washington, received a sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. Co-defendants Jacob Royce Mullins, 20, of South Webster, Ohio, and Matthew Martin, 25, of Lancaster, Wisconsin, received sentences of 84 months and 80 months of imprisonment, respectively. 

In a related case last year, a federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia convicted Ashley Kolhoff, 22, of Port Clinton, Ohio, of production of child pornography for her participation on the Rapey.su website. She was subsequently sentenced to 15 years in prison. Other users around the country have been prosecuted successfully in state and federal court for their conduct committed on the website.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal 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 Leonie M. Brinkema.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Schlessinger and Trial Attorney Whitney Kramer 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 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.

In 2021, EDVA launched “UnMasked,” a community-based educational outreach and prevention program in Virginia dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. UnMasked is a multi-disciplinary partnership of local, state, federal, and non-profit stakeholders. The core curriculum is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) NetSmartz program. To report an incident involving online sexual exploitation, call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org. To request an UnMasked event at your school or organization, please contact EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at USAVAE-UnMasked@usdoj.gov.

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-120.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced today the seizure of 13 domains used by Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs), Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), and their members associated with Lebanese Hizballah.

According to court records, the United States obtained court authorization to seize five domains registered to the Public Interest Registry (PIR) ­­– moqawama.org, almanarnews.org, manarnews.org, almanar-tv.org, and alshahid.org – and eight domains registered to Verisign, Inc. – manartv.net, manarnews.net, almanar-tv.com, almanar-tv.net, alidaamouch.com, Ibrahim-alsayed.net, alemdad.net, and naimkassem.net.

“EDVA is at the forefront of ensuring that American internet infrastructure is unavailable for use by international terrorist organizations, their members and affiliates,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The domains seized through this operation are controlled by individuals and entities engaged in planning or perpetrating acts of terrorism against Americans and thus are not lawfully permitted to use American infrastructure. Operations like this disrupt terrorist activity by blocking one avenue these groups and individuals use to gather support and influence.”

“Today’s web domain seizures deny terrorist organizations and affiliates significant sources of support and makes clear we will not allow these groups to use U.S. infrastructure to threaten the American people,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will continue to enforce economic sanctions as part of our commitment to deploy all available tools against threats from hostile nation-states and terrorist actors alike.”

Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), SDNs and SDGTs, such as Lebanese Hizballah, Al Manar TV, Ali Damush, Ibrahim al-Sayyid, Islamic Charitable Emdad Committee, Martyrs’ Foundation in Lebanon, Naim Qasim, and their members may not obtain services, including website and domain services, in the United States without a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). No such license was obtained for the 13 seized domains.

Additionally, these 13 domains are subject to seizure as assets of entities and organizations engaged in planning or perpetrating acts of terrorism against the United States, its citizens and residents, and their property. These domains also afford a source of influence over those entities and organizations. The seizure of these domains will cut off that source of support and influence.

“Today’s seizure reduces Hizballah’s ability to peddle their dangerous violent ideology across the globe,” said Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce. “This coordinated enforcement action demonstrates that the U.S. Government will proactively use all available enforcement tools to thwart those who seek to perpetrate acts of terror.”

“These court-authorized domain seizures reflect the FBI’s continued dedication to the fight against terrorism," said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.  “Along with our federal and international partners, the FBI remains focused on proactively disrupting web domains controlled by Specially Designated Nationals – those who attempt to illegally utilize US infrastructure to incite deadly violence against the United States and our Allies to further the objectives of foreign terrorist organizations.”

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office; and Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce, announced the seizure of the domain names.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Peters and Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia in these matters.

The Department of Justice’s National Security Division provided assistance on this 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.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl that resulted in the death of a young woman.

According to court documents, from around July 2020 through June 2021, Reza Hashemi, 34, distributed over 400 grams of fentanyl in Northern Virginia. Hashemi was identified following the October 24, 2020, overdose death of a 22-year-old male, J.V., in Vienna. Hashemi admitted to distributing pressed counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to J.V. During the course of the investigation into J.V.’s death, law enforcement approached Hashemi and informed him of the death, but he continued to distribute fentanyl.

On May 28, 2021, in Alexandria, Hashemi distributed an approximate 1-gram quantity of powder fentanyl to J.F., which caused J.F.’s death by accidental fentanyl poisoning. J.F. was 26 years old at the time.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Call and Bibeane Metsch 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-1.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond woman pleaded guilty today to using her position within the City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) to steer governmental contract awards towards herself and her co-conspirators. 

According to court documents, Shaun Lindsey, 53, is a Senior Administrative Technician at DPW, a governmental entity responsible for providing engineering, technical, and administrative services to Richmond residents. Before she was placed on administrative leave in February 2022, Lindsey was responsible for managing and obtaining approval for DPW procurements with outside vendors. 

From at least 2018 through 2021, Lindsey and her co-conspirators operated a scheme to defraud the DPW. Lindsey and her co-conspirators owned and operated straw companies to bid on DPW work, circumventing Virginia law and City of Richmond rules against self-dealing by public employees. Additionally, Lindsey and her co-conspirators designated and approved DPW work to be performed by these straw companies using their positions at DPW. In some instances, the work to be performed was completely fabricated and no such work was ever needed. In other instances, the work was actually performed by DPW employees, not by contracted vendors. Sometimes, Lindsey and her co-conspirators subcontracted the work out for profit upon winning the DPW work.

Where procurement amounts exceeded $5,000, a DPW approval threshold requiring that work be competitively bid, Lindsey manufactured fictitious straw bids on behalf of competitor companies to engineer Lindsey’s preferred company winning the work. In one instance, Lindsey steered a $28,700 contract award to her boyfriend. Finally, within days of Lindsey’s straw company winning work, she sent checks for a portion of the funds to a senior DPW leader, Lindsey’s co-conspirator.

In another example, in early 2019, DPW sought to have overgrown foliage at Parker Field, an area in Richmond, cleared in advance of Fourth of July celebrations that same year. Though Lindsey knew mowing of the field was being performed by DPW employees, she nevertheless created and obtained approval of a requisition request in the DPW purchase order system for a company owned by the wife of a senior DPW leader to mow the entire area 16 times in four days, at a total cost of $4,800. In a different instance, in December 2020, DPW leadership sought to set up holiday decorations of Richmond-area bridges. In response, Lindsey generated a requisition request for her own straw company and thereafter sub-contracted the work out at a profit. The subcontractor believed they had contracted with the City of Richmond, not with Lindsey’s personal company, and when Lindsey failed to pay the sub-contractor the balance for the work, the sub-contractor sought payment directly from the City of Richmond. The City of Richmond then had to pay the subcontractor – effectively paying twice for the same work. In all, Lindsey and her co-conspirators fraudulently caused DPW to disburse at least $603,701 in funds to companies owned by Lindsey and her co-conspirators, causing $226,767 in loss to DPW.

Lindsey is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29. She 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 James Osuna, Inspector General, City of Richmond Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth 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. 3:22-cr-53.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

According to court documents, from May 2021 to April 2022, Torian Nemow, 30, purchased, manufactured, distributed, and possessed with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of marijuana in Hampton Roads.

On April 29, 2022, members of the Norfolk and Virginia Beach Police Departments executed a search warrant on Nemow’s residence. In Nemow’s residence, they found 2,321 pills containing methamphetamine, 27 pounds of marijuana, 56 bottles containing promethazine, 3 digital scales, packaging material, $60,000 in United States currency, 145 rounds of ammunition, and two firearms, one of which had been reported stolen. Officers also found numerous photographs of Nemow with other known members of the G-Shine/Gangster Killer Bloods, a criminal street gang and subset of the United Blood Nation. During the course of their investigation, law enforcement obtained information that showed that Nemow was a high-ranking member of the gang.

Nemow had set up his own security cameras within the residence. One of the cameras was pointed at drugs sitting on a countertop in the kitchen. Footage from this security camera showed Nemow and others manipulating drugs at the kitchen counter on different occasions.

Officers searched Nemow’s cell phones and social media accounts, where they found additional photographs of Nemow with other members of the G-Shine Bloods, conversations where Nemow talked about trafficking in narcotics, and photographs of firearms and narcotics.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Cheney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle prosecuted the case. Stolle also serves as an Assistant Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.

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-118.

An indictment was unsealed today charging an Iranian national with leading a visa fraud scheme to facilitate the illegal entry of individuals from Iran into the United States.

According to court documents, Hesam Fatehi Peykani, 38, allegedly organized, led, and worked with others in his Iranian-based smuggling network to facilitate the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses. Peykani allegedly carried out his scheme by charging Iranian citizens between $1,000 to $30,000 to submit or cause to be submitted tourist visa applications with false information on their behalf at a nearby U.S. consulate or embassy. The purportedly false information made the Iranian citizens appear to have strong ties to Iran to increase the likelihood of receiving a U.S. tourist visa, even when the applicants intended to remain in the United States permanently. Peykani allegedly coached the applicants to repeat the lies on their tourist visa application during their visa interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy. On one or more occasions, Peykani allegedly provided fraudulent documents to the Iranian citizens to support the lies in their visa application during their visa interview.

“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is alleged to have fraudulently facilitated the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States when they were not entitled to otherwise do so – enriching himself in the process, by charging large fees for his services,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this case demonstrates, the department continues to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to profit from conduct that undermines our system of legal immigration.”

“Peykani allegedly exploited individuals and the U.S. immigration system through his visa scheme, trading on lies and fake documents to facilitate the illegal entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are committed to holding accountable those who seek personal monetary gain by compromising and undermining the integrity of the immigration process.”

“This case represents the finest efforts of cooperative law enforcement,” said Supervisory Special Agent Gregory Batman of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “DSS pursued investigative leads which led to disrupting and dismantling human smuggling operations. These crimes threaten the national security of the United States and the trustworthiness of our visa process.”

“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is allegedly part of a larger Iranian smuggling network that purportedly lined their own pockets by cheating Iranian citizens out of thousands of dollars and lying to the U.S. government,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., Field Office. “They allegedly enabled Iranians to enter the U.S. under fictitious pretenses. HSI Washington cannot allow such breaches of security to happen without consequences. We are constantly looking to reinforce our nation’s security in order to provide safety for the American people.”

Peykani is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit visa fraud, visa fraud, conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to come to the United States for profit, and encouraging and inducing an alien to come to the United States for profit. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The DSS Criminal Fraud Investigations Branch is investigating the case, with assistance from the HSI Washington D.C., Field Office, and is supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

Trial Attorney Clayton O’Connor of the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza Ty for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.

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

NORFOLK, Va. – The Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and the FBI’s Norfolk Field office have issued a call for victims of a Virginia Beach-based fraudster to come forward.

According to a criminal complaint filed on April 3, 2023, between approximately July 24, 2020, and August 18, 2020, Dion Lamont Camp, 38, allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud Navy Federal Credit Union. Camp allegedly obtained fraudulent loans for vehicles that were never actually purchased, keeping the proceeds of the loan for himself. He concealed his involvement by using women and business entities to apply for the loans. Camp deceived the women about the purposes of the loans, used their personally identifiable information (PII) without their consent, and used other coercive means such as threats and physical and sexual assault.

Anyone who believes they have information relating to or are a victim of this scheme, are encouraged to fill out the questionnaire at https://forms.fbi.gov/dionlamontcamp. All responses are voluntary and encouraged as they help law enforcement identify and assist potential victims of the fraud scheme. Based on the information provided, respondents may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.

Camp is charged with bank fraud. If convicted, Camp faces 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Gantt and Elizabeth Yusi 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. 2:23-mj-00051.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of an 11-count indictment charging an Iranian national with leading a visa fraud scheme to facilitate the illegal entry of individuals from Iran into the United States.

According to the indictment, from approximately September 2013 to October 2015, Hesam Fatehi Peykani, 38, allegedly organized, led, and worked with others in his Iranian-based smuggling network to facilitate the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses. Peykani allegedly carried out his scheme by charging Iranian citizens between $1,000 to $30,000 to submit or cause to be submitted tourist visa applications with false information on their behalf at a nearby U.S. consulate or embassy. The purportedly false information made the Iranian citizens appear to have strong ties to Iran to increase the likelihood of receiving a U.S. tourist visa, even when the applicants intended to remain in the United States permanently. Peykani allegedly coached the applicants to repeat the lies on their tourist visa application during their visa interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy. On one or more occasions, Peykani allegedly provided fraudulent documents to the Iranian citizens to support the lies in their visa application during their visa interview. Peykani is believed to reside in Sweden and remains at large

“Peykani allegedly exploited individuals and the U.S. immigration system through his visa scheme, trading on lies and fake documents to facilitate the illegal entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are committed to holding accountable those who seek personal monetary gain by compromising and undermining the integrity of the immigration process.”

“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is alleged to have fraudulently facilitated the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States when they were not entitled to otherwise do so – enriching himself in the process, by charging large fees for his services,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this case demonstrates, the department continues to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to profit from conduct that undermines our system of legal immigration.”

“This case represents the finest efforts of cooperative law enforcement,” said Supervisory Special Agent Gregory Batman of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “DSS pursued investigative leads which led to disrupting and dismantling human smuggling operations. These crimes threaten the national security of the United States and the trustworthiness of our visa process.”

“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is allegedly part of a larger Iranian smuggling network that purportedly lined their own pockets by cheating Iranian citizens out of thousands of dollars and lying to the U.S. government,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. Field Office. “They allegedly enabled Iranians to enter the U.S. under fictitious pretenses. HSI Washington cannot allow such breaches of security to happen without consequences. We are constantly looking to reinforce our nation’s security in order to provide safety for the American people.”

Peykani is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit visa fraud, visa fraud, conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to come to the United States for profit, and encouraging and inducing an alien to come to the United States for profit. 

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Criminal Fraud Investigations Branch, with assistance from HSI Washington D.C., and is supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza K. Ty and Trial Attorney Clayton O’Connor of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.

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

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – CybeCys, Inc., a defense contractor located in Texas, and its Chief Executive Officer, Harish Vajja of Fairfax, agreed to pay more than $283,000 in civil penalties, damages, and restitution and have repaid the full amount of two pandemic-relief loans to resolve allegations that Vajja transferred funds from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to his individual investment account, where he used the funds to purchase cryptocurrency and other investments. 

The PPP and the EIDL program offered loans to eligible small businesses for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP borrowers were required to certify that they would use the funds to retain workers and maintain payroll or for other permissible purposes. EIDL borrowers were required to certify that they would use the funds solely as working capital to alleviate the economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the allegations, Vajja, on behalf of CybeCys, applied for a $954,446 PPP loan and an $80,700 EIDL loan. After CybeCys received the $954,446 PPP loan, Vajja transferred PPP funds to his individual investment account, where he allegedly purchased securities, exchange-traded funds, and cryptocurrency, while CybeCys used other corporate funds to maintain payroll. Vajja also allegedly directed EIDL funds issued to CybeCys to be deposited into his personal bank account, after which he allegedly transferred portions of the funds to his individual investment account and used the funds to purchase securities, exchange-traded funds, and cryptocurrency.

As part of the resolution, CybeCys and Vajja agreed to pay $178,493 in restitution, civil penalties, and damage multipliers under the False Claims Act, and $104,515 in civil penalties under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA). CybeCys also repaid the full amounts of the PPP and EIDL loans and agreed not to seek forgiveness of the PPP loan. 

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hochul III. 

The civil claims are allegations only; there has been no admission of 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.

NORFOLK, Va. – A federal grand jury indicted a Norfolk man today on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Fentanyl mixed with Xylazine, opening two drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl mixed with Xylazine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and being a convicted felon in possession of firearms. 

According to allegations in the indictment, on or about February 17, 2023, William Griggs, 54, operated two drug-involved houses in the City of Norfolk where he stored and packaged fentanyl mixed with Xylazine for distribution in Norfolk, and stored and packaged cocaine.

Xylazine, also known as “Tranq,” is a powerful sedative that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for veterinary use only. Xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. People who inject drug mixtures containing Xylazine also can develop severe wounds, including necrosis—the rotting of human tissue—that may lead to amputation. The combination is referred to on the street as the “Zombie” drug.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently issued a public safety alert warning the American public of a sharp increase in the trafficking of Fentanyl mixed with Xylazine and the drug’s deadly effects. The FDA also published an alert to health care providers about the risks to patients exposed to Xylazine in illicit drugs.

If convicted of the allegations, Griggs faces up to 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 the DEA Washington Division; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after the grand jury returned an Indictment. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock 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. 2:23-cr-60.

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

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), announced today the continued availability of approximately $325,000 in grant funding for Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) initiatives.

On March 10, 2022, EDVA announced the availability of $535,653 in grant funds to programs and initiatives that support the PSN violence reduction strategy. Since then, four organizations have received grants totaling approximately $500,000. The initiatives that received funding last year were:

• The City of Richmond RVA League for Safer Streets, which seeks prevention and intervention for young individuals who may be susceptible to or involved in gangs;
• Ballistic IQ technology for the police departments of the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Hampton;
• A three-year research grant on the impact of effectiveness of Group Violence Intervention by the George Mason Center for Evidence Based Policy; and

• Real Life Group Violence Intervention and services for individuals making re-entry into the community from correctional facilities.

EDVA’s PSN violence reduction strategy, which is supported by these initiatives, sets the following goals to reduce violent crime:

• Engage, collaborate, and invite community stakeholders to share responsibility in efforts to reduce violent crime.
• Build trust between law enforcement and the community through effective communication, regular interaction, and the support and protection of crime victims.
• Reduce accessibility and possession of handguns among minors.
• Reduce re-offending and break the cycle of re-victimization.
• Disrupt and dismantle the region’s most organized and violent gangs.
• Identify chronic violent offenders responsible for a disproportionate level of violent crime.
• Work with citizens in neighborhoods most impacted by violent crime on harm reduction strategies.

In the fall of 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s office formed a Grant Committee in collaboration with local, state, and community partners to help identify and allocate grant funds to programs and initiatives that support EDVA’s PSN violence reduction strategy. The 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.

The U.S. Attorney and the PSN Grant Committee encourage organizations and local and state agencies whose programs support our PSN goals within the district to apply for the remaining grant assistance by visiting the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website at https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/grants/programs/fy-2023-project-safe-neighborhoods-psn-grant-solicitation. Applications must be submitted in the DCJS Online Grants Management System (OGMS) no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 26, 2023.

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 federal grand jury returned an indictment this week charging an Arlington doctor with distributing tens of thousands of oxycodone pills for almost a decade for no legitimate medical reason.

According to allegations in the indictment, Kirsten Van Steenberg Ball, 68, was a primary care physician who operated a medical practice out of her home in Arlington. Ball allegedly conspired with her office manager to shield the fact that she was dispensing vast quantities of oxycodone to her patients—contrary to ordinary standards of medical care—from law enforcement and regulatory authorities.

The indictment alleges that Ball’s office manager, Candie Marie Calix, 40, of Front Royal, used an alias to disguise the fact that Calix was, herself, a patient of Ball. According to the indictment, Ball allegedly prescribed her office manager approximately 50,000 oxycodone pills over a period of approximately 10 years.

The indictment further alleges that the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) investigated Ball twice: once in 2015 and once in 2021. Despite the two investigations, Ball did not change her prescribing practices. According to the indictment, examples of Ball’s prescriptions include the following:

• Prescribing a patient as many as 360 oxycodone 30-mg tablets per month;
• Prescribing similarly high quantities of oxycodone to close family members;
• Paying a patient to perform manual labor on Ball’s home while concurrently prescribing the patient oxycodone, ostensibly for long-term pain;
• Loaning a patient $40,000 while concurrently prescribing the patient oxycodone;
• Continuing to prescribe oxycodone to patients after they failed drug screens.

Ball is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, and 21 counts of distribution of oxycodone. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. 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.

Calix was sentenced to seven years in prison on September 28, 2022, for conspiring to distribute oxycodone.

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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Rumbaugh 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-cr-80.

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

Un ex oficial colombiano de inteligencia militar fue condenado hoy a una pena de 12 años de prisión por su participación en un concierto para distribuir cocaína para su importación a Estados Unidos.

De acuerdo con documentos judiciales, desde agosto de 2017 hasta abril de 2018, Fabián Humberto Tovar Caicedo, de 41 años, un sargento del Servicio de Inteligencia del Ejército Nacional de Colombia, ayudó a una organización de narcotráfico y concertó para enviar cargamentos de miles de kilogramos de cocaína de Colombia a México para su importación final a Estados Unidos. Entre otros servicios corruptos que Tovar Caicedo ofrecía a la organización de narcotráfico, se incluyen la colocación en el puerto de Santa Marta de policías dispuestos a facilitar la exportación de cocaína a cambio de remuneración; la sugerencia de utilizar los mismos teléfonos que la DEA usa para seguridad; la puesta a disposición de su experiencia militar para encriptar dichos teléfonos para seguridad adicional y el intento de venderle una lista de cooperadores de la DEA a la organización de narcotráfico.

Tovar Caicedo coordinó múltiples reuniones en apoyo del ardid para distribuir la cocaína. Él y sus cómplices concertaron para enviar múltiples cargamentos, que comenzaron en unos 1.000 kilogramos y alcanzaron hasta 10.000 kilogramos de cocaína por cargamento. Según la declaración de los hechos, un miembro de la organización de narcotráfico viajó a México para negociar la entrega de la cocaína con un oficial de alto rango de las fuerzas armadas de México.

Uno de los cómplices de Tovar Caicedo, Fabián Andrés Leyton Vargas, se aprovechaba de su cargo como oficial de la Fuerza Aérea de Colombia del Ministerio de Defensa de Colombia para identificar a funcionarios de seguridad y del orden público en el puerto de Santa Marta y comunicarse con ellos para sobornarlos. Una vez que dichos funcionarios recibían sus pagos corruptos, ellos aseguraban que los contenedores contaminados con cocaína pasaran por el puerto sin inspeccionarse. Empleando este método, Leyton Vargas, junto con los cómplices Antonio Aldemar Ávila Acevedo y José Mauricio Castañeda Garzón, intentaron enviar 1,773 kilogramos de cocaína de Colombia a Guatemala en ruta hacia Estados Unidos en julio de 2017, así como 2,081 kilogramos de cocaína de Colombia a México en ruta hacia Estados Unidos en marzo de 2018. Las fuerzas del orden público colombianas incautaron ambos cargamentos antes de que pudieran salir del puerto.

Un acusado en una causa relacionada, José María Fragoso D’Acunti, aprovechándose de su cargo anterior con la Policía Nacional de Colombia, además de conexiones personales, identificó y sobornó a funcionarios de seguridad y del orden público en el puerto de Cartagena en Colombia, para apoyar al tráfico de cocaína por parte de su organización. Fragoso D’Acunti y sus cómplices planearon traficar cocaína en cantidades de cientos de kilogramos, con un valor de millones de dólares estadounidenses, a Europa, al causar que dicha cocaína se ocultara a bordo de contendores comerciales de embarque. En noviembre de 2018, en el puerto de Savannah, Georgia, las autoridades del orden público de EE. UU. incautaron 516 kilogramos de cocaína enviados de Cartagena por la organización de narcotráfico de Fragoso D’Acunti, en ruta a Amberes, Bélgica. La cocaína se había mezclado con piñas en un contendor de embarque. En diciembre de 2018, de nuevo en el puerto de Savannah, Georgia, las autoridades del orden público de EE. UU. incautaron otros 205 kilogramos de cocaína enviados de Cartagena por la organización de narcotráfico de Fragoso D’Acunti, también en ruta a Bélgica. La cocaína se había mezclado con limas en un contendor de embarque. En apoyo del concierto, Fragoso D’Acunti pagó mil millones de pesos colombianos, lo cual equivale a más de $300,000 dólares estadounidenses, de soborno a un oficial de seguridad portuaria.

Fragoso D’Acunti, Fabián Andrés Leyton Vargas y Antonio Aldemar Ávila Acevedo fueron condenados a 12 años de prisión. El cómplice José Mauricio Castañeda Garzón fue condenado a siete años y cuatro meses de prisión.

Las Fuerzas de Tarea contra la Delincuencia Organizada y los Delitos Asociados al Narcotráfico (OCDETF, por sus siglas en inglés) apoyó estas causas. OCDETF identifica, interrumpe y desarticula a organizaciones delictivas transnacionales, pandillas, narcotraficantes y lavadores de dinero de gran envergadura que amenazan a los Estados Unidos, mediante una estrategia multiinstitucional, dirigida por fiscales y basada en inteligencia, la cual moviliza el potencial de los organismos de seguridad federales, estatales y locales en contra de redes criminales.

El fiscal general auxiliar Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia, la fiscal de EE. UU. para el Distrito Este de Virginia Jessica D. Aber y el agente especial a cargo de la División de la DEA en Louisville (estado de Kentucky) J. Todd Scott hicieron el anuncio.

La División de la DEA en Louisville y la Oficina de la DEA en Cartagena investigaron el caso, con cuantiosa asistencia de la Unidad de Explotación de Documentos y de los Medios de la Oficina de Inteligencia Especial de la DEA; y la Unidad de Investigaciones Bilaterales de la División de Operaciones Especiales, además de las oficinas de la DEA en Bogotá, Panamá, Ciudad de Guatemala, San José (Costa Rica), Bruselas, Ciudad de México, Madrid, Fráncfort, Londres, París, Roma, La Haya, Viena, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Savannah, Detroit, Tampa – PANEX y Nueva Orleans. El Centro Nacional de Identificación de Objetivos de la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP, por sus siglas en inglés) también brindó cuantiosa asistencia. La Policía Nacional de Colombia, la Policía Federal de Bélgica, el Zolfahndungsamt de Alemania, la Policía Nacional de los Países Bajos y la Guardia di Finanza de Italia también brindaron asistencia clave.

Los fiscales litigantes Douglas Meisel y Janet Turnbull de la Unidad de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas (NDDS, por sus siglas en inglés) de la División Penal y el fiscal auxiliar de EE. UU. Anthony T. Aminoff del Distrito Este de Virginia procesaron la causa.

Los fiscales litigantes de NDDS Meisel y Teresita Mutton y el fiscal auxiliar de EE. UU. Aminoff del Distrito Este de Virginia están procesando la causa contra Fragoso D’Acunti.

Los fiscales auxiliares de EE. UU. Aminoff (entonces de la NDDS), Katie Rumbaugh y Dave Peters para el Distrito Este de Virginia procesaron la causa contra Leyton Vargas, Ávila Acevedo y Castañeda Garzón.

La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia y la Agregaduría Judicial en la Embajada de EE. UU. en Bogotá brindaron cuantiosa ayuda para lograr la detención y extradición de los acusados.

A former Colombian military intelligence official was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine for importation into the United States.

According to court documents, from August 2017 through April 2018, Fabian Humberto Tovar Caicedo, 41, a sergeant in the Colombian Army Intelligence, assisted a drug trafficking organization (DTO) and conspired to send multi-thousand-kilogram shipments of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico for eventual importation into the United States. Tovar Caicedo offered various corrupt services to the DTO, including providing police in the Port of Santa Marta willing to facilitate the export of cocaine in exchange for payment, suggesting the use of the same phones that the DEA uses for security, offering his military training to encrypt those phones for additional security, and attempting to sell a list of DEA cooperators to the DTO.

Tovar Caicedo organized multiple meetings in furtherance of the cocaine distribution scheme. He and his co-conspirators plotted to send multiple shipments, starting at 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and moving up to as many as 10,000 kilograms of cocaine per shipment. According to the statement of facts, a member of the DTO traveled to Mexico to negotiate the receipt of the cocaine with a high-ranking Mexican military official.

One of Tovar Caicedo’s co-conspirators, Fabian Andres Leyton Vargas, used his position as a Colombian Air Force officer in the Colombian Ministry of Defense to identify and contact security and law enforcement officials in the Port of Santa Marta for bribes. Once these officials received their corrupt payments, they would ensure that cocaine-laden cargo containers passed uninspected through the port. Using this method, Leyton Vargas, along with co-conspirators Antonio Aldemar Avila Acevedo and Jose Mauricio Castaneda Garzon, attempted to ship 1,773 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Guatemala en route to the United States in July 2017, as well as 2,081 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico en route to the United States in March 2018. Colombian law enforcement seized both shipments before they could depart the port.

A related defendant, Jose Maria Fragoso D’Acunti, used his former position in the Colombian National Police, along with personal connections, to identify and bribe security and law enforcement officials in the port of Cartagena in Columbia to aid his organization’s cocaine trafficking. Fragoso D’Acunti and his co-conspirators planned to traffic multi-hundred-kilogram quantities of cocaine, valued at millions of United States dollars, to Europe by causing such cocaine to be secreted aboard commercial shipping containers. In November 2018, in the port of Savannah, Georgia, U.S. law enforcement seized 516 kilograms of cocaine sent by Fragoso D’Acunti’s DTO from Cartagena that were destined for Antwerp, Belgium. The cocaine was comingled with pineapples in a shipping container. In December 2018, again in the port of Savannah, Georgia, U.S. law enforcement seized an additional 205 kilograms of cocaine sent by Fragoso D’Acunti’s DTO from Cartagena, that were also destined for Belgium. The cocaine was comingled with limes in a shipping container. In support of the conspiracy, Fragoso D’Acunti paid 1 billion Colombian pesos, equivalent to more than $300,000 U.S., in bribe money to a port security officer.

Fragoso D’Acunti, Fabian Andres Leyton Vargas, and Antonio Aldemar Avila Acevedo were sentenced to 12 years in prison. Co-conspirator José Mauricio Castaneda Garzon was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) supported these cases. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, and multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Division made the announcement.

The DEA Louisville Division and Cartagena Resident Office investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence’s Document and Media Exploitation Unit and Special Operations Division’s Bilateral Investigations Unit, as well as the DEA’s offices in Bogota, Panama, Guatemala City, San Jose (Costa Rica), Brussels, Mexico City, Madrid, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Rome, The Hague, Vienna, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Savannah, Detroit, Tampa – PANEX, and New Orleans. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) National Targeting Center also provided substantial assistance. The Colombian National Police, the Belgian Federal Police, the German Zolfahndungsamt, the National Police of the Netherlands, and the Italian Guardia di Finanza also provided critical support.

Trial Attorneys Douglas Meisel and Janet Turnbull of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony T. Aminoff for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

NDDS Trial Attorneys Meisel and Teresita Mutton and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aminoff for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case against Fragoso D’Acunti.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aminoff (then with NDDS), Katie Rumbaugh, and Dave Peters for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case against Leyton Vargas, Avila Acevedo, and Castaneda Garzon.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendants.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Disputanta woman pleaded guilty today to filing a false individual tax return, preparing false returns for her taxpayer customers, and defrauding two COVID-19 relief programs.

According to court documents, Sherika T. Carter, 40, was the owner and operator of Binn’s Tax Service LLC (Binn’s Tax) which has been in operation since at least the 2016 tax return filing season. Carter routinely prepared and submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) individual income tax returns for Binn’s Tax’s customers. Between 2016 and continuing through 2021, she filed over 2,000 returns. Certain returns Carter prepared for her customers were fraudulent, as she added false items on the Schedules A, Schedules C, and residential energy credit forms accompanying the returns without the knowledge and consent of her customers. This resulted in her customers either receiving inflated refunds from the IRS or paying less taxes than were owed. Likewise, for tax year 2019, Carter prepared a false and misleading individual income tax return for herself, thereby fraudulently reducing her tax liability. In total, Carter’s crimes caused a tax loss to the IRS of at least $376,248.

Separately, Carter devised and repeatedly executed a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program of finite funds intended for businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this scheme, she submitted PPP applications to financial institutions that contained false supporting documentation, such as a false Schedule C that had never been filed with the IRS and which contained materially false information. Despite fraudulently obtaining three separate PPP loans for Binn’s Tax and herself, Carter further filed a fraudulent unemployment insurance/PUA application with the Virginia Employment Commission that contained false information about her employment status. Through this scheme, the defendant unlawfully recieved approximately $100,000 intended for businesses and workers suffering the effects of the pandemic.

Carter is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2023. She 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; Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; and Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kashan K. Pathan and Mike Gill 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-45.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Upper Marlboro, Maryland, man who had previously been convicted of a felony offense was sentenced today to over five years in prison for committing two armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery across Northern Virginia and Maryland.

According to court documents, in February 2021, Francis Ford, 53, robbed a Subway restaurant in Largo, Maryland, and a Papa John’s restaurant in Falls Church, and attempted to rob a Marathon gas station in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. On February 21, 2021, Ford and his co-conspirator, Jon Fleet, 62, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, drove to the Subway restaurant. Fleet entered the Subway and brandished a firearm at employees while Ford waited in the getaway vehicle. Once Fleet had completed the robbery, he fled the restaurant and Ford drove himself and Fleet away from the crime scene. On February 23, 2021, Ford and Fleet both walked into the Papa John’s restaurant together. Fleet pointed a firearm at an employee and demanded that the cash register be opened; Ford made employees believe that he was carrying a firearm by keeping his hand on his waistband as though a firearm was there. After the employee eventually produced a bag containing cash, Ford and Fleet fled the store. Finally, on March 7, 2021, Ford entered the Marathon gas station with a sawed-off shotgun and demanded that the store clerk produce cash from the register. The store clerk refused to give Ford any money and called the police, thwarting Ford’s efforts.

At the time of the robberies, Ford and Fleet were convicted felons and thus prohibited from possessing firearms.

In February of 2022, Fleet was sentenced to 17 years in prison in connection with these and other robberies across Virginia and Maryland.

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; Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police; and Malik Aziz, Chief of Prince George’s County Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cristina Stam and Bibeane Metsch 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-10.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former Colombian military intelligence official was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine for importation into the United States. This defendant was the fifth to be sentenced in a multi-year investigation that lead to three indictments charging officials in the Colombian Army, Air Force, and National Police.

According to court documents, from August 2017 through April 2018, Fabian Humberto Tovar Caicedo, 41, a sergeant in Colombian Army Intelligence, helped organize a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that conspired to send multi-thousand-kilogram shipments of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico for eventual importation into the United States. Tovar Caicedo also offered various corrupt services to the DTO. He found a corrupt member of the police in the Port of Santa Marta willing to facilitate the export of cocaine in exchange for payment; he suggested buying the same phones that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) uses for security; he offered to use his military training to encrypt those phones for additional security; and he attempted to sell a list of DEA cooperators to the DTO.

Tovar Caicedo and his co-conspirators plotted to send multiple shipments, starting at 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, but moving up to as many as 10,000 kilograms of cocaine per shipment. A member of the DTO traveled to Mexico to negotiate the receipt of the cocaine with a corrupt, high-ranking Mexican military official.

One of the defendant’s co-conspirators was Fabian Andres Leyton Vargas, a Colombian Air Force officer, whom the defendant met at a military training in the United States. Leyton Vargas used his position in the Colombian Ministry of Defense to identify and contact security and law enforcement officials in the Port of Santa Marta to be targeted for bribes. Once these officials received their corrupt payments, they would ensure that cocaine-laden cargo containers passed uninspected through the port. Using this method, on July 27, 2017, Leyton Vargas, along with co-defendants Antonio Aldemar Avila Acevedo and Jose Mauricio Castaneda Garzon, attempted to ship 1,773 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Guatemala en route to the United States. Additionally, on March 27, 2018, the same defendants conspired to ship 2,081 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico en route to the United States. Colombian law enforcement seized both shipments before they could depart the port.

As part of this multi-year investigation targeting corruption in Colombia’s ports, a fifth defendant, Jose Maria Fragoso D’Acunti, admitted to using his former position in the Colombian National Police, along with familial and other connections, to identify and bribe security and law enforcement officials in the port of Cartagena, Colombia, to aid his organization’s cocaine trafficking. The defendant and his co-conspirators planned to traffic multi-hundred kilogram quantities of cocaine, valued at millions of United States dollars, to Europe by causing such cocaine to be secreted aboard commercial shipping containers. On November 29, 2018, in the port of Savannah, Georgia, U.S. law enforcement seized 516 kilograms of cocaine sent by Fragoso D’Acunti’s DTO from Colombia, that were destined for Belgium. The cocaine was comingled with pineapples in a shipping container. On December 15, 2018, again in the port of Savannah, Georgia, U.S. law enforcement seized an additional 205 kilograms of cocaine sent by Fragoso D’Acunti’s DTO from Colombia that were also destined for Belgium. The cocaine was comingled with limes in a shipping container. In support of the conspiracy, Fragoso D’Acunti paid 1 billion Colombian Pesos, equivalent to more than $300,000 US Dollars, in bribe money to a port security officer.

Defendants Fragoso D’Acunti, Fabian Andres Leyton Vargas, and Antonio Aldemar Avila Acevedo were sentenced to 12 years in prison. Co-conspirator José Mauricio Castaneda Garzon was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison.

These prosecutions are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Division made the announcement.

The DEA’s Louisville Field Division and Cartagena Resident Office investigated this case, with substantial assistance from the DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit, the DEA’s Special Operations Division and Special Operations Division – Bilateral Investigations Unit, as well as DEA’s offices in Cartagena, Bogota, Panama, Guatemala City, San Jose (Costa Rica), Brussels, Mexico City, Madrid, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Rome, The Hague, Vienna, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Savannah, Detroit, Tampa – PANEX, and New Orleans. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - National Targeting Center also provided substantial assistance. The Colombian National Police, the Belgian Federal Police, the German Zolfahndungsamt, the National Police of the Netherlands, and the Italian Guardia di Finanza also provided critical support.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony T. Aminoff and Trial Attorneys Douglas Meisel and Janet Turnbull of the Department of Justice’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted case 1:20-cr-181.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony T. Aminoff and Trial Attorney Teresita Mutton of the Department of Justice’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted case 1:19-cr-282.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony T. Aminoff  (then with the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section), Katherine Rumbaugh, and David Peters prosecuted case 1:18-cr-74.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendants listed above.

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. 1:20-cr-181, 1:19-cr-282, and 1:18-cr-74.

Stanlee Fazi, 41, of Louisa, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court in Alexandria to trafficking turtles in violation of the Lacey Act. Sentencing is scheduled for July 26.

Fazi admitted that between July 31, 2017, and June 29, 2020, he illegally collected eastern box turtles from the wild and sold them on at least 27 occasions to buyers in California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. Fazi received approximately $12,700 using Facebook Marketplace for these sales. Many of Fazi’s purchasers, in turn, smuggled the turtles from the United States to Hong Kong and China for the illegal pet trade. Fazi acknowledged binding the turtles in socks and shipping them by FedEx from Fredericksburg.

The federal Lacey Act is the nation’s oldest wildlife trafficking statute and prohibits, among other things, transporting or selling wildlife in interstate commerce if the wildlife were illegally taken or possessed under state laws. The Commonwealth of Virginia also prohibits taking turtles from the wild or selling them. The maximum sentence under the Lacey Act is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is a subspecies of the common box turtle (Terrapene carolina). The eastern box turtle is native to forested regions of the eastern United States, including Virginia, with some isolated populations in the Midwest. The turtles typically reach a length of up to six inches and can live more than 100 years. The turtles have a domed carapace, which can display radiated lines or spots. Turtles with colorful markings are particularly prized in the domestic and foreign pet trade market.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices of Law Enforcement in Baltimore and Vero Beach, Florida, conducted the investigation as part of Operation Middleman. The operation focused on the trafficking of reptiles from the United States to China.

The government is represented by Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of the Environment and Natural Resource Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg for the Eastern District of Virginia.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Russian national residing in Leesburg pleaded guilty today to smuggling animal DNA into the United States at Washington Dulles International Airport.

According to court documents, on August 19, 2022, Polina Perelman arrived at Dulles Airport from Russia. On her Customs Declaration, Perelman denied that she was importing any animals, animal products, or cell cultures. However, during an inspection of her luggage customs officers found a Styrofoam cooler labeled “Research Samples,” containing 19 small vials and tubes packed in dry ice. When asked about the vials and tubes, Perelman said that they contained cell lines and DNA samples that she planned to have sequenced in the United States for her research in Russia. Perelman said that the samples were suspended in a freezing/transport medium containing fetal bovine serum, which also contained dimethyl sulfoxide and Alpha Minimum Essential Medium to help preserve the samples.

Further, according to court documents, Perelman said that she was a researcher at the Institute of Molecular & Cellular Biology in Novosibirsk, Russia, and does genetic sequencing of animal and reptile DNA to study evolution. Perelman admitted that she failed to declare her possession of wildlife products and cell cultures because she was concerned that customs officials might think that the vials contained a disease agent, and that if she declared the samples, customs officials would seize the samples and ask her unwanted questions.

According to court documents, of the 19 samples that Perelman attempted to introduce into the United States, two contained biological material derived from Siberian crane and dhole, endangered species under U.S. law and protected by an international treaty known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). 

Perelman is scheduled to be sentenced on August 24, 2023. She 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; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Edward Grace, Assistant Director of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia T. Giles accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cristina Stam and Gordon Kromberg 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. 1:23-cr-55.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced yesterday to over 10 years in prison for distributing thousands of fentanyl-laced pills.

According to court documents, Dashawn Dontia Blassingame, 24, between at least April of 2021 and May of 2022, conspired with others to distribute counterfeit pills bearing the appearance of pharmaceutically produced Oxycodone, but that in fact contained fentanyl. During that same time frame, the defendant also possessed firearms, including a semi-automatic pistol, while being prohibited from doing so due to his multiple prior felony convictions.

According to court records, the defendant and some of his co-conspirators were members of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips criminal street gang. The members of the conspiracy arranged for parcels containing thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to be mailed to Virginia from Arizona for further redistribution. The defendant was charged after a package containing over 7,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, destined for the defendant and his co-conspirators, tore open in the ordinary course of mail delivery and was seized by law enforcement. The defendant and his co-conspirators worked together to distribute these pills containing fentanyl in Northern Virginia and elsewhere for a profit. Prior to his arrest on the federal charges, the defendant had multiple Virginia state convictions, including felony eluding of police, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and multiple convictions for felony possession of controlled drugs.

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 Rossie D. Alston.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Prince William County Police Department provided significant assistance on this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Bredemeier and Heather Call 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. 1:23-cr-19.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Tolleson, Arizona, man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Ethan Roberts, 28, met a then 14-year-old juvenile online in January 2022. The juvenile lived in Norfolk. Roberts engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the minor for a seven-month period, repeatedly asking her to create and send sexually explicit images of herself to him. In August 2022, Roberts traveled by bus from Arizona to Norfolk. He picked up the minor and the pair traveled back to Roberts’ apartment in Arizona. While in Arizona, the juvenile logged into her online gaming account. The juvenile’s friend noticed her online, and informed law enforcement. Using the information from her online gaming account, the FBI was able to locate and rescue the juvenile from Roberts’ apartment. 

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; and Michael C. Maslow, Acting Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi 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.

In 2021, EDVA launched “UnMasked,” a community-based educational outreach and prevention program in Virginia dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. UnMasked is a multi-disciplinary partnership of local, state, federal, and non-profit stakeholders. The core curriculum is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) NetSmartz program. To report an incident involving online sexual exploitation, call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org. To request an UnMasked event at your school or organization, please contact EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at USAVAE-UnMasked@usdoj.gov.

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-141.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to 7 years in prison for traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

According to court documents, Charles Willoughby III, 39, served as a youth group leader at New Life Worship Center (NLWC) in Norfolk. From 2006 to 2012, Willoughby routinely groomed minor teenage girls who were part of the church’s youth program in order to attempt to sexually abuse them. On June 26, 2012, Jane Doe, who was then 15 years old, and other youth group members boarded a chartered bus from NLWC to travel to Georgia for a national church youth group conference. Willoughby served as one of the chaperones. While on the bus there, Willoughby forced Jane Doe to engage in a sexual act. Jane Doe did not disclose the abuse until 2018, and other victims were identified after that disclosure. 

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Yusi and Megan Montoya 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

In 2021, EDVA launched “UnMasked,” a community-based educational outreach and prevention program in Virginia dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. UnMasked is a multi-disciplinary partnership of local, state, federal, and non-profit stakeholders. The core curriculum is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) NetSmartz program. To report an incident involving online sexual exploitation, call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org. To request an UnMasked event at your school or organization, please contact EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at USAVAE-UnMasked@usdoj.gov.

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. 2:21-cr-96.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today, Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), announced the completion of an event designed to help community members and leaders have a better understanding of hate crimes and how to report them to law enforcement.

Yesterday evening, EDVA hosted a presentation called “United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting and Preventing Hate Crimes” at the Weinstein Jewish Community Center. Members of the Richmond community, as well as organizations representing those who are at risk of being targeted in hate crimes, were invited to the event. The goal of this event series is to empower community members to prevent and respond to hate crimes and incidents by meeting and facilitating conversations with the law enforcement members to whom they can direct questions and reports about hate crimes and hate incidents.

“Hate or bias-motivated crimes are some of important crimes that we prosecute in EDVA. All citizens of the Commonwealth and the nation, regardless of their background or identity, deserve to live freely and without fear of discrimination and violence,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The United Against Hate event is only the beginning of many conversations and action steps that our office and our law enforcement partners are taking to increase public awareness about hate crimes and how to report them. EDVA, alongside community organizations such as the Weinstein JCC, encourage the community to come together to call out hatred, report all incidents of hate crimes, and help us create neighborhoods that are safe and welcoming to all.”

The speakers at the event included U.S. Attorney Aber and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Anthony and Nick Durham. Speakers also included law enforcement professionals from the FBI Richmond Field Office and Virginia State Police.

Through hypothetical scenarios and video clips depicting real-life hate crime cases and stories, United Against Hate promotes robust interaction between community members and law enforcement participants. Program topics include defining hate crimes versus hate incidents; the importance of reporting unlawful acts of hate; providing options for responding to hate incidents when situations do not constitute a federal or state crime; and distinguishing unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, including identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes.

To request a United Against Hate presentation at your organization, house of worship, or school, please contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Durham, EDVA Civil Rights Coordinator, at (703) 299-3700.

On May 27, 2021, Attorney General Garland issued a memorandum on “Improving the Department’s Efforts to Combat Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents,” which emphasized the importance of prioritizing community outreach around hate crimes. The United Against Hate presentation, developed by the Department’s Hate Crimes Enforcement and Prevention Initiative, is designed to meet that objective. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia applied for and was proud to be selected for the first national phase of this important program.

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.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man was sentenced today to 52 months in prison for distributing a Schedule II controlled substance to a person under age twenty-one.

According to court documents, in April of 2022, Latae'veion Woods, 21, sold pills purporting to be Percocet to a 14-year-old, who died of a fentanyl overdose approximately five days after the distribution. Following the overdose death, officers found a clear plastic baggie containing four blue pills with markings consistent with 30 milligram Percocet pills in the juvenile’s pants. Analysis later showed that the pills actually contained fentanyl. Police also discovered text messages on the 14-year-old’s phone which revealed that Woods distributed pills to the juvenile on multiple occasions during March and April 2022. The messages further established that Woods instructed the juvenile how to redistribute the pills and directed him to resell the pills for a specific amount of money. No other messages were located on the juvenile’s phone to suggest he had any other source of supply for Percocet.

Messages also demonstrated that Woods offered to sell the juvenile a firearm, specifically, a Glock 19 or Glock 48 semiautomatic handgun. During a search warrant of Woods’ residence, law enforcement seized a Glock 48 handgun and a Glock-style semi-automatic “ghost” gun, both of which Woods admitted belonged to him.

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 Peter Newsham, Chief of Prince William County Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis, III.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hahn 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-226.