Eastern District of Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. – Merrill Robertson, Jr., 36, of Chesterfield, former owner of two Richmond area investment firms, was arrested this morning for his role in an investment fraud scheme that caused over $8 million in losses to his clients.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in 2009, Robertson and a co-conspirator started Cavalier Union Investments, LLC. Between 2009 and 2015, Cavalier obtained at least $8 million from over 40 investors. During this time, Robertson made material misrepresentations and omissions about the use of investor funds, the assets securing investor funds, and the investment vehicle into which investor funds would be deposited.             Robertson also signed promissory notes with many investors that guaranteed a specific rate and return, pledged that investment funds were secured by tangible assets, and provided many investors with annual statements that misrepresented the value of their investment at the time and the account number where investment funds were supposedly located. During a deposition with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in October 2015, Robertson acknowledged that Cavalier failed to pay back the approximately $8 million in principal invested with the company and stated that Cavalier currently has no income or assets.  Robertson admitted that he often commingled business, personal and investor funds.  Robertson stated that he used investor funds to pay for personal expenses such as his mortgage and car payments.

In a parallel action, the SEC today announced civil charges against Robertson.

Robertson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Thomas Jankowski, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after Robertson’s arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Lee Martin is prosecuting the case.

This investigation was initiated based on information received from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is currently being investigated by the FBI's Richmond FIeld Office, IRS-Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Virginia State Corporation Commission

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-mj-197.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Donnetto Deantoni, 44, of St. Michael, Minnesota, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for his role in a $12.9 million software piracy scheme.  Deantoni was also ordered to forfeit over $4.4 million in proceeds and to pay the victim, Autodesk, Inc., over $12.9 million in restitution. 

Donnetto Deantoni’s brother, Deonnetti Deantoni, who led the conspiracy, was sentenced to 40 months in prison in April, and ordered to pay over $6.5 million in forfeiture and over $7.7 million in restitution.

Donnetto Deantoni pleaded guilty on April 12.  According to court documents, over the course of a 26 month conspiracy the brothers conspired to distribute pirated versions of nearly $13 million worth of copyrighted engineering and design software belonging to Autodesk, Inc.  They sold this software to engineering firms at deeply discounted prices using websites designed to make the software appear legitimate and went to great lengths to conceal their scheme. For example, the brothers interacted with customers under the false name “Monica Simpson,” and created a false entity, the “National Software Licensing Association,” to endorse their products.  

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kellen S. Dwyer and Maya D. Song, along with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Doherty-McCormick.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-CR-50.

NORFOLK, Va. – Keiawn Demarco McDonald, 23, of Virginia Beach, pleaded guilty today to charges of sex trafficking of a child. McDonald is the seventh and final member of this sex trafficking ring to be convicted (see chart below).

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, in the fall of 2015 McDonald, who is a member of a Virginia Beach-based set of the Bloods street gang, recruited a minor girl to engage in prostitution at various hotels in Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach. McDonald photographed the victim, posted online advertisements for her commercial sex services, and arranged prostitution appointments for her. McDonald also instructed the victim about how to conduct appointments with customers and monitored her activities by text message during her appointments. He required the victim to provide him with all the money she earned from her prostitution activities.

McDonald was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 9, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on December 15. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask. Assistant U.S. Attorney V. Kathleen Dougherty is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16cr2.

Name

Age, Hometown

Charges Convicted of

Sentencing Info

Keiawn Demarco McDonald

23, Virginia Beach

Sex Trafficking of a Child

Sentencing set for December 15

Cordario Marcell Uzzle

23, Virginia Beach

Sex Trafficking of a Child

Sentenced on June 3 to 151 months

Darryl Trashaun Threat

22, Virginia Beach

Sex Trafficking of a Child

Sentenced on June 9 to 292 months

Tajaika R. Blackston

19, Virginia Beach

Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of a Child

Sentenced on June 10 to 100 months

Keith Deontai Threat

22, Virginia Beach

Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of a Child

Sentencing set for September 16

Shade Audrey Castro

23, Virginia Beach

Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of a Child

Sentencing set for October 27

Gary Anthony Hassell

26, Virginia Beach

Sex Trafficking of a Child

Sentencing set for October 28

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – “Although the United States acknowledges that the Supreme Court’s opinion in McDonnell v. United States is equally applicable to Maureen McDonnell’s convictions, Mrs. McDonnell’s convictions have not been vacated. Her defense counsel filed a motion requesting that her case be held in abeyance until August 29, 2016. The United States did not oppose that request, and the United States Court of Appeals for Fourth Circuit granted the unopposed motion to hold the appeal in abeyance. At this time we are thoughtfully determining next steps in both cases.”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Neftali Perea-Zuniga, 30, a Colombian national, was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for his role in nearly 40 burglaries he committed in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri from 2010 through 2013. Perea-Zuniga was also ordered to forfeit $790,436 and ordered to pay $630,336.36 in restitution to his victims.  Perea-Zuniga will be deported after serving his prison sentence. 

Perea-Zuniga was found guilty by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga after a bench trial on May 4.  According to evidence introduced at trial and sentencing, Perea-Zuniga and three co-conspirators, each Colombian nationals who resided in Houston, Texas, traveled across the country to Maryland, Virginia, and other states where they committed burglaries.  Perea-Zuniga and his co-conspirators, all of whom previously pleaded guilty, specifically targeted homes owned by small business owners in the area, under the assumption that those families would likely keep cash, gold, and other small valuables in their houses.  Perea-Zuniga and his co-conspirators broke into these homes, disabled security devices, and ransacked the master bedrooms in search of cash and gold—much of it family heirlooms.  When Perea-Zuniga was arrested, he and two co-conspirators were caught with approximately $60,000 in gold jewelry that had been taken from a residence in Loudoun County.  In all, Perea-Zuniga and his co-conspirators stole over $790,000 worth of cash, gold, and small electronics.  As a result of law enforcement efforts, some of the cash and jewelry, including a seizure by the Indiana State Police of a suspicious Fed Ex package, resulted in the seizure of over $105,000 in cash and jewelry, which was ultimately returned to the victims.  

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington; Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; J. Thomas Manger, Montgomery County Chief of Police; Chief Gary L. Gardner, Howard County Police Department; and Michael L. Chapman, Loudoun County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly R. Pedersen and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aleza Remis prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-CR-11.

Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, Virginia, was arrested today on charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.  Young is employed by the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) as a law enforcement officer.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.  Young’s initial appearance is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan of the Eastern District of Virginia.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Young has been employed as an MTPD officer since 2003.  Law enforcement first interviewed Young in September 2010 in connection with his acquaintance, Zachary Chesser, who had been arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.  Over the next several years, Young allegedly had numerous interactions with undercover law enforcement personnel and an FBI confidential human source (CHS) regarding his knowledge of and interest in terrorism-related activity.  Many of these interactions were recorded.  Law enforcement also interviewed Young’s family and co-workers.  In 2011, Young met with an undercover law enforcement officer, and several of these meetings included another of Young’s acquaintances, Amine El Khalifi, who later pleaded guilty to charges relating to his plan to conduct a suicide bombing at the U.S. Capitol Building in 2012.  

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in 2011, Young traveled to Libya once and attempted to travel there a second time.  Young told FBI agents that he had been with rebels attempting to overthrow the Muammar Qaddafi regime.  Baggage searches revealed that Young traveled with body armor, a kevlar helmet and several other military-style items, according to the allegations.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on about 20 separate occasions in 2014, Young met with the CHS, who posed as a U.S. military reservist of Middle Eastern descent who wanted to travel overseas to join ISIL.  During these conversations, Young allegedly advised the CHS on how to evade law enforcement detection by utilizing specific travel methods and advised the CHS to watch out for informants and not discuss his plans with others.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, also in 2014, the CHS led Young to believe that he had successfully left the United States and joined ISIL.  In reality, the CHS had no further contact with Young.  All further communications between Young and the CHS’s email account were actually communications between Young and FBI undercover personnel posing as the CHS.  In June 2015, Young emailed the CHS asking for advice from the CHS’s commanders on how to send money to ISIL.  Young said, “[u]nfortunately I have enough flags on my name that I can’t even buy a plane ticket without little alerts ending up in someone’s hands, so I imagine banking transactions are automatically monitored and will flag depending on what is going on.”

In December 2015, the FBI interviewed Young, ostensibly in connection with an investigation into the whereabouts of the CHS, according to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint.  Young allegedly said that the CHS had left the United States to go on a vacation tour in Turkey approximately one year ago.  In addition, according to the allegations in the complaint, Young said that he knew of no one in the United States or overseas who helped the CHS cross the Turkish border into Syria.

On July 18, 2016, Young allegedly communicated with a person who he believed to be the CHS regarding purchasing gift cards for mobile-messaging accounts that ISIL purportedly uses in recruiting others to join the terrorist organization.  According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on July 28, 2016, Young sent 22 gift card codes to the FBI undercover officer posing as the CHS with a message that stated: “Respond to verify receipt . . . may not answer depending on when as this device will be destroyed after all are sent to prevent the data being possibly seen on this end in the case of something unfortunate.”  The codes were ultimately redeemed by the FBI for $245, according to court documents. 

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, Young faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes.  If convicted of any offense, the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The MTPD initiated this investigation and continues to work collaboratively with the FBI Washington Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force on the case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon D. Kromberg and John T. Gibbs of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney David P. Cora of the National Security Division.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, who is employed as a police officer with the Metro Transit Police Department, was arrested today on charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.  Young will have his initial appearance here at 2 p.m. today in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Young has been employed as a police officer with the Metro Transit Police Department since 2003.  Law enforcement first interviewed Young in September 2010 in connection with his acquaintance, Zachary Chesser, who one month later pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists.  Over the next several years Young had numerous interactions with undercover law enforcement officers and a cooperating witness regarding Young’s knowledge or interest of terrorist related activity, many of which were recorded. Law enforcement also interviewed Young’s family and co-workers. Several meetings Young had with an undercover law enforcement officer in 2011 included another of Young’s acquaintances, Amine El Khalifi, who later pleaded guilty to charges relating to attempting a suicide bombing at the U.S. Capitol Building in 2012.  

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Young told FBI agents that he traveled to Libya twice in 2011 and he had been with rebels attempting to overthrow the Muammar Qaddafi regime.  Baggage searches revealed that Young traveled with body armor, a kevlar helmet, and several other military-style items.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in 2014, Young met on about 20 separate occasions with an FBI confidential human source (CHS) posing as a U.S. military reservist of Middle Eastern descent who was becoming more religious and eager to leave the U.S. military as a result of having had to fight against Muslims during his deployment to Iraq.  During these conversations Young advised CHS on how to evade law enforcement detection by utilizing specific travel methods and advised CHS to watch out for informants and not discuss his plans with others.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in Fall 2014, CHS led Young to believe that he had successfully left the United States and had joined ISIL.  In reality, CHS had no further contact with Young.  All further communications between Young and CHS’s email account were actually communications between Young and FBI undercover personnel posing as CHS.  In June 2015, Young emailed CHS asking for advice from CHS’s commanders on how to send his money overseas. Young said, “[u]nfortunately I have enough flags on my name that I can’t even buy a plane ticket without little alerts ending up in someone’s hands, so I imagine banking transactions are automatically monitored and will flag depending on what is going on.”

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in December 2015, the FBI interviewed Young, ostensibly in connection with an investigation into the whereabouts of CHS.  Young said that CHS had left the United States to go on a vacation tour in Turkey approximately one year ago.  Young said that he knew of no one in the United States or overseas who helped CHS cross the Turkish border into Syria.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on July 18, 2016, Young communicated with whom he believed to be CHS regarding purchasing of gift cards for mobile messaging accounts ISIL uses in recruiting. On July 28, 2016, Young sent 22 sixteen digit gift card codes to the FBI undercover with a message that stated: “Respond to verify receipt . . . may not answer depending on when as this device will be destroyed after all are sent to prevent the data being possibly seen on this end in the case of something unfortunate.” The codes were ultimately redeemed by the FBI for $245. 

Young faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon D. Kromberg and John T. Gibbs, and Trial Attorney David Cora of the National Security Division.

The Metro Transit Police Department initiated this investigation and continues to work collaboratively with the FBI Washington Field Office Joint Terrorism Task Force on the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-MJ-355.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

NORFOLK, Va. – Cheron Marie Johnson, 31, of Portsmouth, was sentenced today to 90 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering and for false statement in a tax filing.  According to the plea agreement, Johnson will pay $338,860 in criminal forfeiture and $211,278 in restitution.

According to court documents, Johnson laundered over $840,000 through 11 bank accounts over the course of a four year conspiracy with her husband, Vernon Norvell, who was sentenced on July 19 to 16 years in prison for his role in distributing over 126 pounds (57 kilograms) of cocaine. 

Johnson deposited nearly a half-million dollars in cash into numerous accounts, and together with Norvell, used a real estate transaction and cake business, “G’s Cake Shop – Cake For All Occasions” in Virginia Beach to launder the drug proceeds.  In 2014, Johnson claimed unemployment benefits for six months while simultaneously depositing over $322,000 into her various accounts.

Johnson and Norvell used the proceeds of his cocaine distribution to purchase a home in the Crystal Lake neighborhood of Portsmouth, several automobiles, expensive clothing and other material items.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Thomas Jankowski, Special Agent in Charge, Washington D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Chief Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Bosse and Joseph E. DePadilla prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16-cr-48

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Raushi J. Conrad, 42, of Bristow, was arrested today on charges of conspiracy to pay and receive bribes, and acceptance of bribes by a public official.

According to the indictment, from at least 2008 through October 2011, Conrad served as the Director of Systems Operation and Security within the Bureau of Industry and Security, a branch of the Department of Commerce.  In that position, Conrad was designated to oversee and manage a project whereby computer files were transferred from an old BIS computer network that had been infected by a virus to a new, uninfected network, and to ensure that the transferred files were free of viruses and, in some instances, retained the full functionality of the files that had resided on the old network.

The indictment alleges that while serving as the project manager for the data migration project, Conrad solicited and received bribes from a local businessman in return for steering a lucrative subcontract and contract to perform the data migration work to companies owned in whole or in part by the bribe payer.  One of the bribe payer’s companies made $208,000 in payments to a restaurant business owned by Conrad, and many of these payments were concealed through false and fictitious invoices created by Conrad.  The fake invoices made it appear that Conrad’s restaurant business had performed various services for the bribe payer’s company, when in fact no such services had ever been provided.  According to the indictment, the bribe payer’s company also arranged for various subcontractors to perform over $7,000 worth of free renovation work at Conrad’s residence.

Conrad faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted of conspiracy, and 15 years in prison if convicted of bribery. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Duane E. Townsend, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General; and Robert E. Craig, Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office, made the announcement after Conrad’s initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Burke and Jamar K. Walker are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-CR-169.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

NORFOLK, Va. – Carlos A. Brown, 45, of Suffolk, pleaded guilty today to distribution of heroin resulting in death.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Brown sold heroin from his Portsmouth residence on County Street from June to November 2015.  On Nov. 18, 2015, Brown contacted one buyer describing his heroin as a “missile.”  Shortly thereafter Brown distributed that heroin and in the early morning hours of Nov. 21, 2015, Ryan Wilson, 27, of Chesapeake, was found dead having used Brown’s heroin.  Even after learning of the death of Ryan Wilson, Carlos Brown continued to sell heroin.  The law enforcement team, made of members of the FBI, Virginia State Police, and the Chesapeake Police Department, made four controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Brown before they arrested him on April 21, 2016.

Brown faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 9, 2016. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; and John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Bosse and Joseph E. DePadilla are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16-cr-67.

RICHMOND, Va. – Leonard Paul Baumgardner, 39, of King George, was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin with three years of supervised release.

Baumgardner pleaded guilty on April 26. According to court documents, on December 9, 2015, December 10, 2015, December 11, 2015, and December 17, 2015, the King George County Sheriff’s Department, utilizing a confidential informant (CI), made controlled purchases of a controlled substance from Baumgardner at his King George residence. On December 18, 2015, DEA agents along with the King George Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police Tri-County Task Force executed a search warrant at the residence. During the search, 24.3 grams of heroin and a firearm, a Cobra .380 Denali Pistol, were recovered.  Baumgardner was arrested at that time and has been held without bond during the pendency of the case.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Steve F. Dempsey, Sherriff for King George County, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorney S. David Schiller prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16cr24.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Christina Ann Traylor, 27, of San Bernardino, California, pleaded guilty today to charges of sex trafficking a minor.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Traylor, together with her boyfriend, recruited the minor victim for the purposes of having her engage in commercial sex work.  Traylor caused the minor to perform commercial sex acts in Harrisonburg and Craigsville. Together with her boyfriend, Traylor drove the minor to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she demanded that the minor continue to perform commercial sex acts.  After the minor refused to prostitute, Traylor assaulted her and drove her across the country to San Bernadino, California, where Traylor forced the minor to prostitute on the street.  The minor was recovered by law enforcement and returned to Virginia. 

Traylor faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on December 2. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Dougherty Russell is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16CR159.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Kenneth Apple, 65, of Beaverton, Oregon, was convicted today by a federal jury on charges related to his role in awarding $2 million in micro-dairy contracts from the U.S. government for use in Iraq.

Apple was indicted on Dec. 17, 2015. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Apple, a former employee with the U.S. Department of State, helped to steer the sole-sourcing of $2 million in micro-dairy contracts to a company in which his son, Jonathan Apple, owned a 50 percent interest.  However, Jonathan Apple and his partner had no technical experience in the industry.  Kenneth Apple conspired to use his official position to pass on non-public information to his son in order to fraudulently award and administer government contracts.  The conspirators further provided false information to, and concealed material details from the U.S. government.

Apple provided templates and technical specifications used in the proposal submitted by Jonathan Apple and his partner to the U.S. government.  In addition, Kenneth Apple caused false and misleading statements to be made to the U.S. government regarding his experience, ownership interest, and the status of the projects.  For example, Kenneth Apple directed a conspirator to keep Jonathan Apple’s name off the company’s website and any ownership documents.  When federal law enforcement agents confronted Kenneth Apple about the scheme, he made false statements, including that he could not recall the owner of the company that won the micro-dairy contracts and that he did not receive any money from the contracts.

Apple faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on October 14.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Frank Robey, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit (MPFU); and Robert E. Craig, Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office, made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis, III.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Uzo Asonye and Katherine Wong are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-cr-363.

NORFOLK, Va. – Sophia Dix, 35, of Newport News, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for wire fraud.  Dix was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $97,584.94.

Dix pleaded guilty on April 25, 2016. According to court documents, from in or about April 2014, through in or about August 2015, Dix devised a scheme to defraud the Social Security Administration (SSA), where she was employed as a service representative at a district office in Norfolk. She had computer access to Social Security Administration beneficiary information, including bank account data for the direct deposit of benefit payments into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. Dix obtained monies for herself by fraudulently processing computer changes to beneficiary account information so that benefit payments would be deposited directly into prepaid reloadable debit card accounts that she opened at a financial institution in the name of a deceased beneficiary. As a result, Dix fraudulently diverted over $97,000 into the prepaid reloadable debit card accounts, which she used for her personal benefit.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Michael McGill, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Philadelphia Field Division of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16cr32.

NORFOLK, Va. – Andysheh Ayatollahi, 36, formerly of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was sentenced today to 74 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $980,541.43 in restitution for conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and filing a false tax return.

Ayatollahi pleaded guilty on March 14, 2016. According to court documents, in July 2007 Ayatollahi purchased a 50 percent interest in the Car Store, a used car dealership located in Virginia Beach.  From then until May 2008, when the Car Store closed, Ayatollahi conspired with others, including Car Store personnel, to defraud Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU).  Ayatollahi and his co-conspirators engaged in fraudulent practices that included using individuals as straw buyers/borrowers to apply to NFCU for car loans because the actual buyers were not sufficiently creditworthy to qualify for a car loan.  Ayatollahi also submitted fraudulent car loan applications to NFCU with false supporting documents; made telephone calls to NFCU impersonating buyers applying for car loans; provided false employer telephone numbers to NFCU and then impersonated the employer while verifying the applicant’s employment and wages; and fraudulently inflated the true purchase price of vehicles and split the excess with the buyers.  In total, Ayatollahi fraudulently caused NFCU to issue 61 car loans with a total loan amount of $1,168,904.97.  Most of these loans went into default, resulting in a loss to NFCU of approximately $867,448.43.  Additionally, Ayatollahi filed false tax returns with the IRS that underreported his income for tax years 2005-2007, resulting in a tax loss of $113,093. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Thomas Jankowski, Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan M. Salsbury prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:10cr15.

RICHMOND, Va. – Danny Lamar Andrews, 54, of Richmond, California, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.  He was also ordered to pay $69,500 restitution to Bank of America and to serve five years of supervised release when released from prison.

Andrews pleaded guilty on March 18.  According to court documents, Andrews entered Bank of America branches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia while impersonating Bank of America account holders.  He withdrew funds from their accounts using stolen debit card numbers and false identifications.  Bank of America incurred $69,500 in actual losses and Andrews attempted other unsuccessful transactions totaling $46,000 in intended losses arising from aborted transactions.  Over the last 17 years Andrews has a dozen prior convictions, 10 of which were for fraud or theft related offenses, over the last seventeen years. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Douglas F. Mease, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office; and Humberto I. Cardounel, Jr., Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore prosecuted the case.

This case was investigated by the Metro-Richmond Identity Theft Task Force. They were assisted by the police departments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Prosecutions for the Task Force are handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-34.

NORFOLK, Va. – Vernon Michael Norvell, 43, of Portsmouth was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for cocaine distribution and money laundering.  According to the plea agreement, Norvell will pay $690,000 in criminal forfeiture.

Norvell pleaded guilty on April 4. According to court documents, Norvell distributed in excess of 126 pounds (57 kilograms) of cocaine and regularly conducted transactions at his home in the Crystal Lake neighborhood of Portsmouth, at his cake business, “G’s Cake Shop – Cake For All Occasions” in Virginia Beach, and at a Food Lion parking lot off Airline Boulevard, in Portsmouth.  One confidential source regularly purchased ounce quantities of cocaine for $1,350 to $1,500 over the course of several years. Another source purchased in excess of five kilograms, often paying $46,000 per kilogram.  At times, Norvell was accepting between $60,000 and $70,000 a week for cocaine.  On five occasions from October 2014 to July 2015, the DEA, in partnership with the Chesapeake and Portsmouth Police Department, conducted controlled purchases of cocaine and crack from Norvell.

Norvell and his wife, Cheron Johnson, 31, also of Portsmouth, used the proceeds of his cocaine distribution to purchase a home in the Crystal Lake neighborhood of Portsmouth, several automobiles, expensive clothing and other material items.  The real estate purchase was one way the couple concealed the cocaine proceeds. While the home appraised for $315,000, they purchased it for $160,000, yet they made over $80,000 in payments before and after the closing, $14,000 of which was in cash.

In addition to the drug and money laundering crimes, according to court documents, from 2012 to 2014, Norvell and Johnson reported a combined adjusted gross income of $157,916, yet during that same period they deposited $926,854, including $338,860 in cash, into nearly a dozen bank accounts, including one off shore account located in Curaҫao.  From January 2011 through August 2015 the couple deposited $468,500 in cash into their accounts.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Thomas Jankowski, Special Agent in Charge, Washington D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Chief Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Bosse and Joseph E. DePadilla prosecuted the case.

This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a focused multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force investigating and prosecuting the most significant drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States by leveraging the combined expertise of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16-cr-49

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Joseph Hassan Farrokh, 29, of Woodbridge, was sentenced today to 102 months in prison for attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Farrokh was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release.

“Farrokh’s state of mind and conduct in this case were egregious and go to the heart of the safety of our community and the nation,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This office will continue to pursue those that travel to fight against the United States and our allies, as well as those individuals that recruit others on behalf of ISIL in the homeland.”

“With this sentence, Joseph Hassan Farrokh will be held accountable for attempting to travel overseas to join ISIL and to provide material support to the designated terrorist organization,” said John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.  “The National Security Division’s highest priority is countering terrorist threats, and we will continue to work to stem the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bring to justice those who attempt to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.”

“Joseph Farrokh admitted to attempting to travel to Syria to join and fight with ISIL in support of its oppressive, violent, and criminal agenda,” said Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “Thanks to the relentless work of agents, analysts, and prosecutors, together with the essential contributions of our partners in the Joint Terrorism Task Force, we were able to disrupt those plans and bring him to justice.  The FBI's highest priority remains preventing terrorist attacks and combating terrorism here in the U.S. and around world.”

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Farrokh conspired with Mahmoud Amin Elhassan, 25, of Woodbridge, to travel from the United States to Syria in order to fight with ISIL. As part of their plan, Farrokh would travel first, followed by Elhassan at a later date. Farrokh and Elhassan spoke in detail about their potential travel, including discussing the different routes each would take to travel to Syria. Farrokh also provided $600 to Elhassan to aid in Elhassan’s future travel to Syria.  Both men spoke openly with each other about supporting ISIL and supporting violent jihad, with Farrokh saying on October 2, 2015, that he had no patience and wanted to go right away and “chop their heads.” 

According to the statement of facts, in an effort to conceal their plans to support ISIL, Farrokh and Elhassan communicated in a manner in which they thought could not be detected by law enforcement, such as using apps they believed were safe from law enforcement detection.  In the summer of 2015, Farrokh and Elhassan talked more seriously about going to join the Islamic State. When Farrokh and Elhassan discussed ways to reach the Islamic State, they concluded that they needed someone to help them do so. Elhassan was very active online, and contacted like-minded people all over the world.  The men pursued two separate plans to travel to Syria to join ISIL, but neither plan worked out.

According to the statement of facts, Farrokh and Elhassan conspired with other persons they believed would help facilitate their travel to Syria. Over the course of many meetings, the men discussed in detail their travel plans and efforts to avoid law enforcement detection, including having Farrokh shave his beard and fly out of Richmond International Airport, as they believed there would be less security. Farrokh and Elhassan agreed that Farrokh should tell his family that he intended to travel to Saudi Arabia to study.

According to the statement of facts, on January 15, Elhassan picked up Farrokh at his home in Woodbridge and drove him to Richmond to a location approximately one mile from the airport. Farrokh then took another cab to the airport, checked in for his flight, cleared security and was arrested as he was approaching his departure gate.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon D. Kromberg and Dennis M. Fitzpatrick, along with Trial Attorney D. Andrew Sigler of the Justice Department’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case.  

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-20.

Joseph Hassan Farrokh, 29, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was sentenced today to 102 months in prison for attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement

“With this sentence, Joseph Hassan Farrokh will be held accountable for attempting to travel overseas to join ISIL and to provide material support to the designated terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin.  “The National Security Division’s highest priority is countering terrorist threats, and we will continue to work to stem the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bring to justice those who attempt to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.”

“Farrokh’s state of mind and conduct in this case were egregious and go to the heart of the safety of our community and the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Boente.  “This office will continue to pursue those that travel to fight against the United States and our allies, as well as those individuals that recruit others on behalf of ISIL in the homeland.”

“Joseph Farrokh admitted to attempting to travel to Syria to join and fight with ISIL in support of its oppressive, violent and criminal agenda,” said Assistant Director in Charge Abbate.  “Thanks to the relentless work of agents, analysts and prosecutors, together with the essential contributions of our partners in the Joint Terrorism Task Force, we were able to disrupt those plans and bring him to justice.  The FBI’s highest priority remains preventing terrorist attacks and combating terrorism here in the U.S. and around world.”

U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga of the Eastern District of Virginia imposed today’s sentence and also ordered Farrokh to serve 10 years of supervised release.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Farrokh conspired with Mahmoud Amin Elhassan, 25, also of Woodbridge, to travel from the United States to Syria in order to fight with ISIL.  As part of their plan, Farrokh would travel first, followed by Elhassan at a later date.  Farrokh and Elhassan spoke in detail about their potential travel, including discussing the different routes each would take to travel to Syria.  Farrokh also provided $600 to Elhassan to aid in Elhassan’s future travel to Syria.  Both men spoke openly with each other about supporting ISIL and supporting violent jihad and on Oct. 2, 2015, Farrokh stated that he had no patience and wanted to go right away and “chop their heads.” 

According to the statement of facts, in an effort to conceal their plans to support ISIL, Farrokh and Elhassan communicated using apps they believed were safe from law enforcement detection.  In the summer of 2015, Farrokh and Elhassan talked more seriously about going to join ISIL and concluded that they needed someone to help them do so.  Elhassan contacted like-minded people all over the world and the men pursued two separate plans to travel to Syria to join ISIL, but neither plan worked out.

According to the statement of facts, Farrokh and Elhassan conspired with other persons they believed would help facilitate their travel to Syria.  Over the course of many meetings, the men discussed in detail their travel plans and efforts to avoid law enforcement detection, including Farrokh shaving his beard and flying out of Richmond International Airport, where they believed there would be less security.  Farrokh and Elhassan agreed that Farrokh should tell his family that he intended to travel to Saudi Arabia to study.

According to the statement of facts, on Jan. 15, 2016, Elhassan picked up Farrokh at his home in Woodbridge and drove him to a location approximately one mile from the Richmond airport.  Farrokh then took a cab to the airport, checked in for his flight, cleared security and was arrested as he was approaching his departure gate.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon D. Kromberg and Dennis M. Fitzpatrick of the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case with Trial Attorney D. Andrew Sigler of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.   

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Ernest Xavier Taylor, Jr., 31, and Tracie Laverne Mixon, 34, both of Hammond, Louisiana, have pleaded guilty to charges relating to unlawfully using the identities of four people to fraudulently obtain federal student loans from Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) and other schools.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Taylor Jr. and Mixon engaged in a conspiracy to use the identity of four different people to fraudulently obtain federal student aid from NVCC and other schools. The four different people included three who were in prison at the time their identities were used, and the fourth person was recovering in a military hospital after suffering injuries while deployed as a member of the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. 

Taylor Jr. and Mixon would use the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of these four different people on various submissions, but Taylor Jr. and Mixon would supply their own addresses, emails, and telephone numbers to ensure that communications from the Department of Education, NVCC, and the other schools would be directed to them. For example, recorded telephone calls captured Taylor Jr. pretending to be the four different identities when calling to check on the status of financial aid from NVCC.

Taylor Jr. and Mixon’s fraudulent actions allegedly caused NVCC and other schools to offer approximately $67,000 in federal student aid to the various identities used by Taylor Jr. and Mixon.  In addition to NVCC, the other schools targeted by Taylor Jr. and Mixon are: Front Range Community College; Community College of Denver; Portland Community College; and Black Hills State University.

Taylor Jr. and Mixon each face a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft when sentenced on October 7.  Additionally, Taylor Jr. and Mixon face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charged in the case.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kathleen Tighe, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian D. Harrison and Edward P. Sullivan are prosecuting the case.  

The case is being investigated by the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General and the FBI.  The investigation received assistance from the Northern Virginia Community College Police Department.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-118.

NORFOLK, Va. – Ronald Miltier, 54, of Portsmouth, was convicted late yesterday by a federal jury on charges related to child pornography.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Miltier was discovered by an undercover FBI agent to have been downloading and possessing files containing child pornography through a peer-to-peer software program. Miltier routinely deleted such files, so there were only 11 movie files found during the agent’s search of Miltier’s laptop computer and hard drive. Forensic analysis revealed, however, that Miltier routinely searched for child pornography and downloaded hundreds, if not thousands, of files with names associated with child pornography.

Miltier faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of conviction when sentenced on October 18.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Kosky prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15-cr-151.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Dana Morris, 42, of Williamsburg, pleaded guilty yesterday to charges of engaging in a monetary transaction involving proceeds of unlawful activity and tax evasion.

In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Morris acknowledged stealing $558,595.26 from her former employer, an elderly resident of Williamsburg.  Through her work as a housekeeper and a personal assistant, Morris gained access to the victim’s home and personal effects.  Between 2012 and 2014, Morris altered and completely forged 117 checks drawn on her employer’s personal checking account.  Morris deposited all of these checks into her personal checking account and spent all of the stolen money on, among other things, over $445,000 in retail and entertainment items.  In March 2014, Morris and another individual used $27,000 of the stolen money to purchase a new car.  Morris falsely stated her income on her 2012 tax return, failing to report the majority of the stolen money.  Morris evaded the assessment of personal income tax in 2013 and 2014 by failing to file tax returns and filing extensions in which she falsely stated she would owe no tax for each year.

Morris was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 11, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on November 10. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The parties agreed, subject to the approval of the District Court Judge, that her sentence will not exceed 37 months.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Thomas Jankowski, Special Agent in Charge, Washington D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI),  made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Howard J. Zlotnick and Kaitlin C. Gratton are prosecuting the case.  This case was adopted for prosecution through the United States Postal Inspection Service’s Financial Crimes Task Force.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:16cr4.

NORFOLK, Va. – Charles Battle, aka C.J., 38, of Portsmouth, was sentenced to 240 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised released for his role in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.  Battle was one of five members or affiliates of the “Corna Sto Boys,” a Portsmouth-based group of crack dealers sentenced to prison this year here in Norfolk.  On Monday, Lacharles Hodges, aka Boogie, 29, also of Portsmouth, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for the same crime. 

According to court documents, both men, along with other members of the “Corna Sto Boys,” sold crack cocaine across the street from the schoolyard of a Portsmouth elementary school.  This was Battle’s third conviction for selling drugs near school property in Portsmouth. 

Three other members or affiliates of the same group, Norman Stephenson, aka Bree; Jawanza Johnson, aka Wanza; and Samuel Gray, aka Pig, were sentenced earlier this year:

Name

Age, Hometown

Charges

Status

Charles Battle

38, Portsmouth

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Crack Cocaine

Pleaded guilty March 15.  Sentenced to 240 months on July 15.

Lacharles Hodges

29, Portsmouth

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Crack Cocaine and 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine

Pleaded guilty March 17.  Sentenced to 151 months on July 11.

Norman Stephenson

35, Portsmouth

Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Manufacture and Distribute 280 Grams or More of Crack Cocaine

Pleaded guilty February 3. Sentenced to 264 months on June 16.

Jawanza Johnson

36, Portsmouth

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 28 Grams or More of Crack Cocaine

Pleaded guilty March 22.  Sentenced to 120 months on June 23.

Samuel Gray

36, Portsmouth

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Crack Cocaine

Pleaded guilty March 17.  Sentenced to 120 months on June 16.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Office; and Tonya D. Chapman, Chief of the Portsmouth Police Department,  made the announcement after Battle was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Bosse and Joseph E. DePadilla, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler, prosecuted the cases.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:16cr3 (Battle), 2:16cr18 (Hodges), 2:16cr16 (Stephenson), 2:16cr5 (Johnson), and 2:16cr19 (Gray).

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Wayne Shelby Simmons, 62, of Annapolis, Maryland, a former Fox News commentator who has falsely claimed he spent 27 years working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for major fraud against the government, wire fraud, and a firearms offense.  Simmons was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, to forfeit two firearms and $175,612 in criminal proceeds, and to pay restitution to his victims. 

“Wayne Simmons is a fraud,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Simmons has no military or intelligence background, or any skills relevant to the positions he attained through his frauds.  He is quite simply a criminal and a con man, and his fraud had the potential to endanger national security and put American lives at risk in Afghanistan.   I want to thank the agents and prosecutors for their efforts on this complicated case.”

“With this sentencing, Simmons now faces the consequences of his criminal activity, deceit, and dishonesty,” said Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.  “He fraudulently obtained positions with the U.S. government by lying about his previous employment and history, and further, defrauded a victim through a bogus real estate investment scheme. Simmons abused people's trust for his own selfish gain, and in doing so placed lives at risk and jeopardized national security.”

“Mr. Simmons never worked at CIA and we are pleased that justice was served in this case,” said Dean Boyd, Director of CIA’s Office of Public Affairs.

Simmons pleaded guilty on April 29.  According to court documents, Simmons defrauded the government in 2008 when he obtained work as a team leader in the U.S. Army’s Human Terrain Systems program, in 2009 when he attempted to obtain work with the State Department’s Worldwide Protective Service, and again in 2010 when he was deployed to Afghanistan as a senior intelligence advisor on the International Security Assistance Force’s Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT).  To obtain these positions and the security clearances they required, Simmons made false statements about his financial, employment, and criminal history, including that he had worked for the CIA, that he had previously possessed a top secret security clearance, and that his prior criminal convictions related to his supposed clandestine work.  In order to obtain the CAAT position, Simmons also lied about the nature of the work he had done just a year earlier with the Human Terrain Systems program, a program from which he had been forced to resign prior to deployment.  The government’s investigation determined that Simmons was never associated with the CIA in any capacity and that during the years he claims to have worked for the agency, he was instead working in a variety of capacities and having various run-ins with the law.  His work activities from 1973-2000 include: defensive back for the New Orleans Saints NFL team, nightclub doorman, manager at a rent-by-the-hour hot tub business, bookie, operator of a limousine business and an AIDS-testing business, mortgage broker, and employment at an anti-graffiti business.  During that time, the defendant was also convicted of state firearms, assault, and gambling charges and federal firearms charges. 

Simmons also defrauded an individual victim, identified as E.L., out of $125,000 in connection with a bogus real estate investment.  As part of the fraud, Simmons sent E.L. promised monthly disbursements to make it appear as if her funds had been invested as promised and repeatedly lied to her about the whereabouts of her money in order to perpetuate the fraud.  There was never any actual real estate investment project, and Simmons simply spent the funds.

Finally, when Simmons was arrested in this case, he was found to be in possession of two firearms, which he was prohibited from possessing on account of his prior felony convictions.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis, III.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul J. Nathanson and James L. Trump prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1: 15-cr-293.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Solomon Oyesanya, 34, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for his participation in two fraud schemes arising out of the Eastern District of Virginia and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and resulting in intended losses exceeding $1.5 million. 

Specifically, Oyesanya was sentenced to 27 months in prison for defrauding U.S. defense contractors by conspiring to commit wire fraud, and a concurrent term of 60 months in prison for committing bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud TD Bank.  Oyesanya also was ordered to serve a total of five years on supervised release, forfeit $25,000 in criminal proceeds, and pay restitution to his victims.

U.S. Defense Contractor Scheme

On March 28, Oyesanya pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud U.S. defense contractors.  According to court documents, Oyesanya was part of a conspiracy, led by two Nigerian nationals, to fraudulently obtain computer hardware and products from contractors and vendors who were approved to do business with the U.S. Government, specifically the U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. DoD).  To accomplish this scheme, members of the conspiracy created fake U.S. DoD and other U.S. government agency websites and email accounts (sometimes called “spoofed” websites and email accounts), and placed fraudulent government purchase orders with victim contractors and vendors for large quantities of computer hardware and similar products. 

In furtherance of the spoofing conspiracy, Oyesanya, using false identification, picked up or attempted to pick up fraudulently ordered shipments from legitimate carriers to divert the shipments to co-conspirators in Nigeria. 

According to court documents, the victimized defense contractors suffered actual losses attributable to Oyesanya in excess of $160,000 and intended losses attributable to Oyesanya in excess of $970,000. 

TD Bank Scheme

On May 12, Oyesanya pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud TD Bank.  According to court documents, beginning no later than March 3, 2011, and continuing until at least November 2012, Oyesanya conspired with other persons to defraud TD Bank out of money by fraudulently accessing TD Bank customer accounts without the customer’s knowledge or consent to withdraw funds.  Oyesanya and his co-conspirators gained access to the accounts of legitimate TD Bank customers by using means of legitimate customer identification, such as customers’ names, dates of birth, addresses, and social security numbers, as well as falsified drivers’ licenses.  Oyesanya and his co-conspirators made deposits in the form of counterfeit checks, small amounts of cash, or a small denomination money order into existing TD Bank customer accounts in order to learn account information, or, if in the form of a fraudulent check, to withdraw funds before TD Bank discovered that the check was fraudulent.  They also obtained online access to customer accounts as well as access to new ATM debit cards and PIN numbers in the names of existing TD Bank customers.

According to court documents, to cover up their scheme, Oyesanya and his co-conspirators often posed as the legitimate TD Bank customers and instructed TD Bank to change the customers’ phone numbers to prevent the customers from being notified of the withdrawal of funds from their accounts. Furthermore, Oyesanya and his co-conspirators used the fraudulently obtained ATM debit cards to withdraw cash at ATM machines and make purchases at merchants such as Target, Walmart, and the U.S. Postal Service. 

As a result of this scheme, TD Bank suffered actual losses exceeding $500,000 and intended losses exceeding $760,000. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jeffrey Thorpe, Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Cyber Field Office; Kevin Perkins, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office; and Brian A. Michael, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Lowe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania originally prosecuted this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kellen S. Dwyer and Alexander P. Berrang and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Filamor continued the prosecution of this case in the Eastern District of Virginia.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-69 and Case  No. 1:16-cr-90.

NORFOLK, Va. – Cindy Hall, 41, of Monroe, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for defrauding the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program. Hall was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $249,225.75 in restitution to the Virginia Department of Health.

Hall’s mother and co-conspirator Stephanie Almond, 61, of Franklin, was sentenced on June 29 to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $249,225.75 in restitution.

Hall pleaded guilty on February 3 and Almond pleaded guilty on January 27 to charges of mail fraud, wire fraud and unlawful monetary transactions.  According to the statement of facts and evidence at trial, Hall ran a non-profit organization known as Send Thee Community Outreach, allegedly to administer the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is a USDA federally-funded program to feed children during the summer when free-lunch programs end at the conclusion of the school year.  The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) administers the SFSP in Virginia. In 2012 and 2013, Hall submitted fraudulent claims to VDH for reimbursement, resulting in almost $250,000 in overpayment to Hall. Almond previously ran her own non-profit organization, Neighborhood Pride, which was a SFSP sponsor from approximately 2008 until 2011, when she was disqualified by VDH.  Almond continued to be involved with the program with Hall, until Hall was told she was disqualified by VDH from receiving funds in 2014.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; June W. Jennings, Inspector General of Virginia; and Phyllis K. Fong, Inspector General for U.S. Department of Agriculture, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi and Kevin Hudson prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15-cr-132.

RICHMOND, Va. – Reginald Jake Farrow, 31, of Richmond, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to make, forge, counterfeit and pass federal reserve notes.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, from May 2015, continuing through February 2016, Farrow conspired with 11 other individuals to make and pass counterfeit $50 and $100 Federal Reserve Notes. The counterfeiting operation took place primarily at a residence in Henrico and the defendants would pass the counterfeit bills at local merchants obtaining merchandise and genuine currency as change. 

In addition, during the course of the conspiracy, Farrow sold a total of 16.57 grams of heroin to a Confidential Informant on five times between July 2, 2015 and August 20, 2015.  The heroin dealing will be considered by the judge at sentencing.

Farrow faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on October 14. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Douglas F. Mease, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.  Assistant U.S. Attorney S. David Schiller is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. Case No. 3:16-CR-56.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Amanda Rubio Alfaro, 42, of Woodbridge, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Alfaro’s boyfriend, Oscar Hernandez Deleon, was the leader of a crew that was importing cocaine from Puerto Rico for redistribution in Woodbridge.  Alfaro admitted she was fully aware of the scope of her boyfriend’s drug trafficking activities, such as the fact that Deleon was receiving cocaine shipments from Puerto Rico; that he was storing cocaine and firearms inside their residence; and that he was selling cocaine to customers at various locations in Woodbridge.  Alfaro assisted Deleon’s drug trafficking activities by serving as a translator when Deleon negotiated cocaine deals with English speaking customers, and helped Deleon wire drug payments to his source of supply in Puerto Rico. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Maria L. Kelokates, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly R. Pedersen and J. Tyler McGaughey prosecuted the case.

This case was initiated by the Prince William Police Department, and they worked jointly with the FBI’s Washington Field Office to investigate the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-45.

A Virginia man was sentenced today to 144 months in prison to be followed by a 20-year term of supervised release for sex trafficking of a minor. 

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr. Chief of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Department made the announcement.

Derek Leon Mantilla, 21, formerly of Fairfax, Virginia, pleaded guilty on April 19, 2016, and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia.  Mantilla will be required to register as a sex offender.

In connection with his plea, Mantilla admitted that from at least November 2014 through February 2015, he, together with Ismael Antonio Mendez and Caitlyn Ann Smith, recruited a 15-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts to pay off a debt that Mendez owed to Mantilla.  The defendants taught the girl how to prostitute, took photos of her to use in advertisements and created and posted internet advertisements for commercial sex.  The co-conspirators knew that the girl was a minor and instructed her to lie about her age to customers.  Over a three-month period, the co-conspirators traveled with the girl throughout Virginia, in New York and every state in between for the purposes of advertising and engaging the girl in prostitution.  During that period, the defendants prostituted the girl every day, with an average of 10 to 12 customers a night until she earned enough to repay Mendez’s debt, at which point the co-conspirators directed her to leave. 

Mendez and Smith have pleaded guilty.  On March 18, 2016, Mendez was sentenced to 10 years in prison.  Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16, 2016.

The FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Fairfax County Police Department investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Lauren Britsch of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Dougherty Russell of the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.

Haris Qamar, 25, of Burke, Virginia, was arrested this morning on charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.  His initial court appearance is at 2 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement after the charges were unsealed.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, on May 26, Qamar and an FBI confidential witness (CW) discussed a video that ISIL was supposedly making to encourage lone wolf attacks in the Washington, D.C., area.  Unbeknownst to Qamar, there was no actual video being created.  Qamar and the CW discussed the need for photos of possible targets in and around Washington, D.C., for use in the purported ISIL video.

According to the complaint, Qamar offered the CW ideas of where to take photographs for use in the video, including the Pentagon and numerous landmarks in Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., which could be targeted for terrorist attacks.  On June 3, a conversation was audio and video recorded when CW picked up Qamar in a vehicle and they drove to area landmarks on the list Qamar had developed.  Qamar allegedly said, “bye bye DC, stupid ass kufar, kill’em all.”  Qamar and CW met again on June 10 and drove to a location in Arlington to take additional photos for the purported ISIL video.
According to the complaint, the investigation revealed that Qamar operated over 60 variations of the Twitter handle “newerajihadi,” which Qamar used to express his support for ISIL and to share videos and photos of extreme violence, including beheadings and mass shootings.

According to the allegations, during numerous conversations with the CW, Qamar expressed his interest and excitement in the extreme violence that ISIL is known for and said that he loved the bodies, blood and beheadings.  On several occasions, Qamar allegedly said that he could slaughter someone and described how he would do it.

On Sept. 11, 2015, terrorists connected with ISIL posted a “kill list” to the internet containing the names and addresses of U.S. military members.  A few days later, Qamar allegedly told the CW that the residences of several service members who appeared on the “kill list” were near Qamar’s own home, and that Qamar had observed undercover police cars near those residences.  According to the affidavit, on Sept. 16, 2015, Qamar tweeted his prayer that Allah “give strength to the mujahideen to slaughter every single US military officer.” 

Additionally, the affidavit alleges that on Sept. 25, 2015, Qamar told the CW that he tried to join ISIL in 2014, but that his parents prevented him from going overseas by controlling his passport.  Qamar allegedly said that his parents threatened to notify law enforcement authorities and said that he fought with his father and called his father a traitor to Islam.  According to the allegations, on Nov. 18, 2015, Qamar told the CW that he would leave the United States and join ISIL if his father gave him back his passport. 

A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  If convicted, Qamar faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Josh Parecki of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Haris Qamar, 25, of Burke, was arrested this morning on charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Qamar is scheduled to have his initial appearance today in front of Magistrate Judge John F. Anderson at 2 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Alexandria.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, on May 26, Qamar and FBI confidential witness (CW) discussed ISIL’s need of photos of possible targets in and around Washington, D.C., for use in a video that ISIL was purportedly making to encourage lone wolf attacks in the Washington, D.C., area.  Qamar allegedly offered CW ideas of where to take these photographs, including the Pentagon and numerous landmarks in Arlington and Washington, D.C., which could be targeted for terrorist attacks.  On June 3, a conversation was audio and video recorded when CW picked up Qamar in a vehicle and they drove to area landmarks on the list Qamar had developed.  Qamar allegedly said “bye bye DC, stupid ass kufar, kill’em all”.  Qamar and CW met again on June 10 and drove to a location in Arlington to take additional photos for the ISIL video.

The FBI first learned of Qamar as he operated over 60 variations of the Twitter handle “newerajihadi”, which Qamar used to express his support of ISIL and share videos and photos of extreme violence, including beheadings and mass shootings. For example, after terrorists murdered employees of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris in January 2015, Qamar tweeted his prayer for another similar attack with even more casualties. 

According to the allegations, during numerous conversations with CW, Qamar expressed his interest and excitement in the extreme violence ISIL is known for.  Qamar said he loved the bodies, blood and beheadings, and he recalled watching a video of a Kurdish individual being slaughtered, and liked the cracking sound made when the individual’s spinal cord was torn. On several occasions Qamar allegedly said he could slaughter someone and described how he would do it.  Qamar also stated that he admired lone wolf attackers because they love Islam so much that they are willing to die as martyrs for Islam and in the same conversation, Qamar and CW allegedly discussed suicide bombings. CW said that he did not believe in suicide bombings, but Qamar allegedly responded “I believe in it 100 percent.”

On Sept. 11, 2015, terrorists connected with ISIL posted a “kill list” to the internet containing the names and addresses of U.S. military members.  A few days later, Qamar allegedly told CW that the residences of several service members who appeared on the “kill list” were near Qamar’s own home, and that Qamar had observed undercover police cars near those residences.  According to the affidavit, on Sept. 16, 2015, Qamar tweeted his prayer that Allah “give strength to the mujahideen to slaughter every single US military officer.” 

Additionally, the affidavit alleges that on Sept. 25, 2015, Qamar told CW that he tried to join the ISIL in 2014, but that his parents prevented him from going by controlling his passport.  Qamar allegedly said that his parents threatened to notify law enforcement authorities and said that he fought with his father and called his father a traitor to Islam.  According to the allegations, on Nov. 18, 2015, CW asked Qamar if his father gave him back his passport would he go and join ISIL, and in response, Qamar said if that happened, “I’m done, I leave.”

Qamar faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after the charges were unsealed.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg is prosecuting the case with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.  The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the case.  

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-mj-300.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Obayedul Hoque, 49, of Alexandria, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns.  Hoque was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and oreder to pay $2,022,106 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

According to court documents, Obayedul Hoque owned and operated Skyhill Shell, a gas station in Alexandria, and multiple Subway restaurant franchises in Washington, D.C., and Arlington, and Alexandria.  Hoque admitted that between 2008 and 2014, he and his co-conspirators, who were managers of some of the Subway franchises and the gas station, conspired to defraud the United States for the purpose of obstructing the IRS in the ascertainment and collection of individual and corporate income taxes.  Hoque and his co-conspirators did not deposit all of the gross receipts of the gas station or the Subway franchises into the corporate or partnership bank accounts.  Instead, Hoque and the managers retained a portion of the gross receipts for their personal benefit and failed to report those funds to the IRS.  For the Subway franchises that had no co-conspirator managers, Hoque retained all of the unreported gross receipts for himself. 

For the period of 2008 through 2013, point of sales records for the Subway franchises reflected total sales of $20,805,667.  However, Hoque and his co-conspirators provided false monthly sales figures to the accounting firm to prepare the Subway entities’ tax returns.  As a result, Hoque and his co-conspirators caused false corporate and partnership tax returns to be filed for the Subway franchises which reported sales of only $14,377,696.  Hoque and his co-conspirators also caused false corporate tax returns to be filed on behalf of Skyhill Shell.  For some years, some of the entities did not file tax returns with the IRS.   Additionally, Hoque filed false individual income tax returns with the IRS.  Hoque admitted that his conduct caused a tax loss to the IRS of between $1.5 million and $3.5 million. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Caroline D. Ciraolo, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye, Assistant Chief Caryn Finley and Trial Attorney Kimberly Shartar of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-9.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Christopher Craft, 41, of Woodbridge, a former warrant officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for receipt of child pornography.  Craft was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. 

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, from July 25, 2014, through Oct. 8, 2014, Craft used a peer-to-peer file sharing program to receive and collect child pornography videos and images, including videos of children as young as 5 years-old being sexually abused. In total, Craft’s child pornography collection included 480 images and 111 videos of children being sexually exploited, including images and videos depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kellen S. Dwyer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Claffee prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-47.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. –Derek Leon Mantilla, 21, an 18th Street Gang member formerly of Fairfax, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for sex trafficking of a minor.  Mantilla was also sentenced to 20 years of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Mantilla admitted that from at least November 2014 through February 2015, that he, Ismael Antonio Mendez and Caitlyn Ann Smith, recruited a 15 year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts to pay off a debt that was owed to Mantilla by Mendez.  The adults taught the girl how to prostitute, took photos of her to use in advertisements, and created advertisements for commercial sex that were posted on the Internet.  The three adults knew the girl was a minor and instructed her to lie about her age to customers.  Over a three month period, the adults traveled with the girl through various states, including Virginia, for the purposes of advertising and engaging the girl in commercial sex.  During that period, the girl worked seven days a week and saw an average of 10 to 12 customers a night.  Once the girl had earned enough to pay off the debt, the Mantilla directed her to leave the adults, and she did. Co-defendants Ismael Antonio Mendez and Caitlyn Ann Smith previously pleaded guilty in the case. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Leslie R. Caldwell, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Dougherty Russell and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Britsch prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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 please visit Project Safe Childhood.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-91.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Omer Gur, 36, of Raleigh, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to charges relating to his leadership of a visa fraud conspiracy involving over 140 foreign workers from Israel.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Gur admitted that from 2012 through 2014, he operated several business entities known collectively as RASKO. During this time he and other co-conspirators illegally induced and recruited, for employment purposes, foreign nationals to enter the United States from Israel on B-2 visitor visas. Gur and the co-conspirators would then put them to work at mall-based kiosk business in Virginia (including in the Hampton Roads area), Georgia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey through which they sold Dead Sea Salt products.  Gur and others paid for their travel to the United States, housed workers in leased apartments, transported workers to work locations and paid workers in cash, wire transfers and gift cards in order to avoid reporting workers and their earnings to employment and taxing authorities.  From 2012 through 2014, RASKO earned over $14 million through its kiosk based sales. 

To date, nine of the ten charged defendants in the case have been arrested (eight in the United States and one recently extradited from Romania).  Gur is the fourth defendant to enter a plea of guilty. 

Gur faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and will be sentenced on October 27. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Robin Blake, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Washington, DC Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Bill A. Miller, Director of the Diplomatic Security Service for the U.S. Department of State, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian J. Samuels, Lisa R. McKeel and Kevin Hudson are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:16cr17.

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard, was arrested on July 3 for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).  According to the complaint, Jalloh is alleged to have attempted to provide services by assisting in the procurement of weapons to be used in what he believed was going to be an attack on U.S. soil committed in the name of ISIL.  In addition, the complaint alleges that Jalloh attempted to provide material support to ISIL by providing money to assist in the facilitation of individuals seeking to join ISIL.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.  Jalloh will make his initial appearance today at 2 p.m. EDT before U.S. Magistrate Judge John F. Anderson of the Eastern District of Virginia.

According to court documents and court proceedings, in March 2016, a now-deceased member of ISIL brokered an introduction between Jalloh, 26, of Sterling, Virginia, and an individual in the United States who actually was an FBI confidential human source (CHS).  The ISIL member was actively plotting an attack in the United States and believed the attack would be carried out with the assistance of Jalloh and the CHS.

According to court documents, Jalloh met with the CHS on two occasions in April and May 2016.  During the April meeting, Jalloh told the CHS that he was a former member of the Army National Guard, but that he had decided to quit after listening to online lectures by Anwar al-Aulaqi, a deceased leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.  Jalloh stated that he recently had taken a six-month trip to Africa, where he had met with ISIL members in Nigeria and first began communicating online with the ISIL member who later brokered his introduction to the CHS.

During their meeting, Jalloh also told the CHS that he often thought about conducting an attack and that he knew how to shoot guns.  Jalloh praised the gunman who killed five U.S. military members in a terrorist attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in July 2015, and stated that he had been thinking about conducting an attack similar to the November 2009 attack at Ft. Hood, Texas.

During the May 2016 meeting, Jalloh asked the CHS about the timeline for an operation and commented that it was better to plan an operation for the month of Ramadan.  Jalloh also asked if the CHS could assist him in providing a donation to ISIL.  Ultimately, Jalloh provided a prepaid cash transfer of $500 to a contact of the CHS that Jalloh believed was a member of ISIL, but who was in fact an undercover FBI employee.

In June 2016, Jalloh travelled to North Carolina and made multiple unsuccessful attempts to obtain firearms.  On July 2, Jalloh went to a gun dealership in northern Virginia, where he purchased and test-fired a Stag Arms assault rifle.  Unbeknownst to Jalloh, the rifle was rendered inoperable before he left the dealership with the weapon.  Jalloh was arrested the following day and the FBI seized the rifle.

The criminal complaint charges Jalloh with attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIL, a designated foreign terrorist organization.  If convicted, Jalloh faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Joint Terrorism Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Eastern District of Virginia is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Trial Attorney Jolie Zimmerman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 26, of Sterling, a former member of the Army National Guard, was arrested on July 3 for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).  Jalloh will make his initial appearance here today at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge John F. Anderson.

According to the complaint, Jalloh is alleged to have attempted to provide services by assisting in the procurement of weapons to be used in what he believed was going to be an attack on U.S. soil committed in the name of ISIL.  In addition, the complaint alleges that Jalloh attempted to provide material support to ISIL by providing money to assist in the facilitation of individuals seeking to join ISIL.

According to court documents and court proceedings, in March 2016, a now-deceased member of ISIL brokered an introduction between Jalloh, 26, of Sterling, Virginia, and an individual in the United States who actually was an FBI confidential human source (CHS).  The ISIL member was actively plotting an attack in the United States and believed the attack would be carried out with the assistance of Jalloh and the CHS.

According to court documents, Jalloh met with the CHS on two occasions in April and May 2016.  During the April meeting, Jalloh told the CHS that he was a former member of the Virginia Army National Guard, but that he had decided to quit after listening to online lectures by Anwar al-Aulaqi, a deceased leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.  Jalloh stated that he recently had taken a six-month trip to Africa, where he had met with ISIL members in Nigeria and first began communicating online with the ISIL member who later brokered his introduction to the CHS.

During their meeting, Jalloh also told the CHS that he often thought about conducting an attack and that he knew how to shoot guns.  Jalloh praised the gunman who killed five U.S. military members in a terrorist attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in July 2015, and stated that he had been thinking about conducting an attack similar to the November 2009 attack at Ft. Hood, Texas.

During the May 2016 meeting, Jalloh asked the CHS about the timeline for an operation and commented that it was better to plan an operation for the month of Ramadan.  Jalloh also asked if the CHS could assist him in providing a donation to ISIL.  Ultimately, Jalloh provided a prepaid cash transfer of $500 to a contact of the CHS that Jalloh believed was a member of ISIL, but who was in fact an undercover FBI employee.

In June 2016, Jalloh travelled to North Carolina and made multiple unsuccessful attempts to obtain firearms.  On July 2, Jalloh went to a gun dealership in northern Virginia, where he purchased and test-fired a Stag Arms assault rifle.  Unbeknownst to Jalloh, the rifle was rendered inoperable before he left the dealership with the weapon.  Jalloh was arrested the following day and the FBI seized the rifle.

The criminal complaint charges Jalloh with attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIL, a designated foreign terrorist organization.  If convicted, Jalloh faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John P. Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after Jalloh’s initial appearance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Gibbs is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Trial Attorney Jolie Zimmerman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-mj-296.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Jerome Robert Barnhart, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 264 months in prison for kidnapping, followed by five years of supervised release.

Barnhart pleaded guilty on Dec. 7, 2015. According to court documents, Barnhart met the victim in Maryland and, after striking up a romance with her and supplying her with marijuana, Barnhart persuaded the victim to be prostituted and to turn over her earnings to him. Barnhart prostituted the victim in Washington, D.C., New York, Maryland, and Virginia. Barnhart imposed a monetary quota on the victim, and when the victim was unable to meet the quota, he became enraged. He periodically beat the victim and threatened her with bodily harm. On one such occasion, Barnhart used the lid of a can to slice the victim’s finger.

In August 2015, after the victim again failed to meet her quota, Barnhart beat the victim at a hotel in Maryland, and then drove the victim to Virginia. During the ride, Barnhart continued to beat the victim with a tire iron. Barnhart threatened the victim and told her that he was going to dump her body where nobody would find it. While Barnhart was beating the victim with the tire iron, his car swerved on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The U.S. Park Police initiated a traffic stop and found Barnhart and the bruised victim in the car. Because the victim was bruised and crying, the police separated her from Barnhart and she began to recount her ordeal. A grand jury later indicted Barnhart for kidnapping, sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, and assault with a dangerous weapon, among other charges.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Robert D. MacLean, Chief of U.S. Park Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Molly Scullin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Frank prosecuted the case.

The Fairfax County Police Department, the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force, and the City of Frederick (Maryland) Police assisted in the investigation.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-CR-270.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Hamza Kolsuz, 43, a Turkish national, was convicted today by the Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III on three counts relating to his attempted exportation of weapons parts to the Republic of Turkey in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.

Kolsuz was indicted on March 2, 2016.  According to court records and the evidence at trial, Kolsuz has on at least three occasions since 2012 attempted to smuggle various weapons parts to Turkey.  Kolsuz, who engaged in this unlawful conduct for profit along with other individuals, purchased weapons and weapons parts in the United States and then traveled with them to Turkey, where they would be reassembled and sold.  In an attempt to circumvent U.S. weapons exportation laws, Kolsuz would either pack the weapons parts in luggage and check the bags in connection with flights to the Republic of Turkey, or he would send weapons parts through the mail.

According to evidence presented at trial, on December 2, 2012, Kolsuz checked in for a flight at JFK International Airport in New York with a final destination of Istanbul, Republic of Turkey.  His checked luggage included: forty upper receivers for semi-automatic pistols; twenty grip modules for Sig Sauer pistols; sixteen barrels for semi-automatic pistols; twenty-six firearms magazines for firearms; and one pistol grip.

On January 8, 2013, Kolsuz checked in for a flight at JFK International Airport with a final destination of Istanbul.  Despite having been specifically informed on December 2, 2012 that it was illegal to export weapons parts without an export license, his checked luggage contained one Beretta slide, one firearm barrel, one Beretta recoil spring, and one Beretta guide rod.

On February 2, 2016, Kolsuz began his return trip to Istanbul by checking in at Miami International Airport for a flight that took him to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.  He then checked in for a flight that was to take him and his checked luggage from Cleveland through Washington Dulles International Airport before embarking for Istanbul.  In Cleveland, Kolsuz checked luggage containing four 9mm Glock 31-round magazines; four 9mm Glock 17-round magazines; four 9mm Glock 15-round magazines; eight 9mm Glock 10-round magazines; one 9mm Smith & Wesson 32-round magazine; four 9mm Sig Sauer handgun barrels; and five 9mm threaded Glock 19 barrels, in addition to various other weapons parts.

All of the weapons parts found in Kolsuz’s checked luggage on December 2, 2012; January 8, 2013; and February 2, 2016 are and were defense articles controlled on the United States Munitions List and therefore required a license or other written authorization from the United States Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (the “DDTC”) in order to be lawfully exported from the United States.  Kolsuz has never applied for and has never received any licenses or other written authorization from the DDTC to export defense articles from the United States.  Accordingly, on each occasion when weapons parts were found in Kolsuz’s checked luggage, all of the parts were seized by law enforcement and were never returned to Kolsuz.

Kolsuz faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on October 7, 2016.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, made the announcement after the verdict was announced.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather N. Alpino and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis M. Fitzpatrick.

HSI Washington, D.C., received assistance with this investigation from HSI New York and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-53.

RICHMOND, Va. – William M. Johnson, 57, of North Chesterfield, pleaded guilty yesterday to charges of theft of government property.

According to a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, in 2007, the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation (“DLA”), located at the Defense Supply Center Richmond in Chesterfield, VA, began a project to recycle steel from steel shelving units in DLA warehouses that were scheduled for demolition.  DLA employees were tasked with dismantling the shelving units, collecting the steel, and transporting the steel to a recycling company for payment.  The DLA employees were then required to return the money from the recycling company to DLA, which would deposit the money into an account earmarked for the DLA’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation fund. 

Beginning in 2014, an investigation led by the Office of Inspector General for DLA and Office of Inspector General for the Department of Defense revealed that Johnson would take the steel to the recycling company and receive payment, but would not turn the money in to DLA.  The investigation further revealed that between the fall of 2011 through June 2013, Johnson stole approximately $106,830 as a result of the recycling project, all of which belonged to DLA.

Johnson pleaded guilty to a criminal information filed by the United States and now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.  He will be sentenced on September 30, 3016.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Robert E. Craig, Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-74.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Christopher Lee Miller, 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for wire fraud conspiracy.

Miller pleaded guilty on April 7, 2016. According to court documents, Miller was a member of a shoplifting ring that targeted Home Depot stores in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Miller and his co-conspirators would steal merchandise from Home Depot stores and then return the stolen merchandise without a receipt. In exchange, they would receive store credit, which they sold for cash. Over the course of five years, Miller helped to defraud Home Depot of approximately $140,000 in store credit.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Brian J. Ebert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler McGaughey prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-cr-210.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Justin Frank Clark, 28, formerly of Stafford, pleaded guilty yesterday to attempting to coerce and entice a minor.

According to court documents, from April through May, Clark responded to an online ad posted by an undercover agent, claiming to advertise a ten-year-old girl for sex. Through a series of emails and messages, Clark arranged to travel from Stafford to Washington, D.C., to have sex with the minor. While arranging the meeting, Clark also sent multiple videos containing child pornography to the undercover agent.

Clark faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on September 16. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and David P. Decatur, Stafford County Sheriff, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Dougherty Russell is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-157.

NORFOLK, Va. – Amy L. Planch, 50, of Moyock, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to evasion of income tax assessment.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, beginning in 1998, Planch worked full time at The Border Station, Inc., a popular retail store, gas station and restaurant located on the border of Currituck County, North Carolina and Chesapeake, Virginia. In her capacity as the bookkeeper and Chief Financial Officer of the company, Planch was responsible for payroll, paying bills, making deposits, transferring funds, and other tasks.

In March 2010, Planch opened a holiday-themed gift shop in Moyock, North Carolina, called the Carolina Christmas Shoppe, Inc. Although she spent the majority of her time at her new business, she retained her responsibilities as the Border Station’s bookkeeper. Beginning in early 2010, Planch began wiring thousands of dollars from the Border Station’s accounts to the Carolina Christmas Shoppe account and her personal accounts, at times then wiring a significantly smaller amount back into the Border Station’s accounts. Over the course of nearly three years, Planch transferred a net of approximately $966,000 from the Border Station to her business and personal accounts. These funds were used to pay her personal expenses, including credit card payments, mortgage payments, travel, clothing, and jewelry. Planch did not report the finances taken without authorization from the Border Station on her individual income tax returns. In December 2012, the owner of the Border Station became aware of Planch’s transfers and fired her. In March 2013, Planch traveled to the FBI offices in Chesapeake, Virginia and, during an interview with IRS and FBI agents, attempted to implicate the Border Station’s owner in a variety illegal activities, to include gambling, drugs, bank fraud, and others.

Planch was charged by criminal information on May 17, and will be sentenced on October 14 by Chief Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Planch faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Thomas Jankowski, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller. Assistant U.S. Attorney V. Kathleen Dougherty is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16-cr-76.

RICHMOND, Va. – Pamela Minor-Chiles, 47, of Chesterfield, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 21 on 27 counts of bank fraud.  The indictment was unsealed today.

According to the indictment, Minor-Chiles, the office manager of the Central Virginia OB/GYN Associates (CVOG), misappropriated approximately $210,000 from the practice from 2007 until 2012.  The scheme involved Minor-Chiles writing approximately 133 checks on the CVOG operating account at SunTrust Bank and fraudulently depositing them into her personal accounts at the Bank of America from 2007 to 2012.  The indictment also alleges that Minor-Chiles concealed the misappropriations by (1) putting fraudulent entries on the check stubs to make it appear that the misappropriated checks were written to outside vendors for legitimate expenses of the practice, and (2) then submitting the fraudulent check stubs to the outside accountants.

On each count of bank fraud, Minor-Chiles faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison if convicted. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Minor-Chiles had her initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge Roderick Young, who released her on bond.  Minor-Chiles will have her arraignment before the Honorable Hannah Lauck on July 8.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Douglas F. Mease, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after the return of the indictment.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Maguire is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-CR-083.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, released the following statement today on the Supreme Court’s ruling in McDonnell v. United States:

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision in the McDonnell matter and does not have any further comment at this time.”

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Jayson Mickle, 31, of Hampton, pleaded guilty today to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and controlled substance analogues.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, from 2008 to 2014, Mickle sold smokable synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as “spice,” in the Hampton Roads area and, eventually, nationwide. Spice consists of plant material sprayed with ever changing active chemical ingredients often produced in clandestine laboratories in China. These chemicals mimic the effects of THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Mickle sold blends of spice with names like Hampster Purp, HPT Cherry, Bizarro, and Orgazmo. Although the packets of spice were labeled “not for human consumption,” Mickle knew that the spice was to be smoked for its intoxicating properties.

Mickle began sales through retail stores by the name of Hampton Pipe and Tobacco, located in Hampton, Newport News, Gloucester and Norfolk. In 2010, Mickle also began a wholesale operation online called Blazin Herbs. In 2013, the wholesale outfit’s name was changed to 7 City Gifts. At times, Mickle was supplied by Zencense, which was a large-scale spice producer and wholesaler based in Florida. Between January 2012 and April 2013, Mickle’s spice distribution operation purchased in excess of 1,000 kilograms of spice for resale from Zencense. Mickle’s operations also supplied the Red Barn, a convenience store in Newport News, with spice in late 2013 into early 2014. From 2010 to 2012 alone, Mickle’s retail operation, Hampton Pipe and Tobacco, grossed over $9,600,000 in spice sales. On average, Hampton Pipe and Tobacco would retail spice by the gram for about $8.00 per gram.

Mickle was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2016 on a superseding indictment. Mickle faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on October 13. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk; Richard Myers, Chief of Police, Newport News Police Department; Terry L. Sult, Chief of Police, Hampton Police Department; Maria L. Kelokates, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Hurt and Kevin Hudson, as well as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Cross-Rochefort, are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:15-cr-18.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Dylan Allen Jeffries, 26, of Clifton Forge, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for coercion or enticement of a minor. Jeffries was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

“Jeffries’ predatory behavior, targeted at multiple underage and vulnerable girls is very serious and certainly deserving of this punishment,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Every minor is a potential target of online sexual predators. Parents must do everything they can to protect their children, and we must continue to punish adults who attempt to sexually exploit them.”

Jeffries pleaded guilty on February 8. According to court documents, Jeffries used Facebook and text messages to graphically describe proposed sexual encounters with at least two victims: Jane Doe 1, who was 12 years old at the time he proposed sexual encounters and requested pornographic images of her; and Jane Doe 2, who was 13 years old.  Further, when agents searched Jeffries’ bedroom, they recovered an external hard drive with images and videos of other underage girls dating back to 2010, and Jeffries stated he had received the majority of the images in the same way that he had received and attempted to receive images from Jane Doe 1—directly from the girls depicted via private Facebook and email messages.

Jeffries acknowledged that the girls depicted on the external hard drive were minors at the time the images and videos were created, and forensic examination of the external hard drive identified 22 images and three videos depicting child pornography.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin C. Gratton and Lisa R. McKeel prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:15-cr-83.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – William Delonta Granberry, 37, of Hughesville, Maryland, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, to be followed by three-year term of supervised release.

Granberry pleaded guilty on February 10. According to a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Granberry acknowledged that beginning in or around 2010, and continuing until December 2015, he fabricated prescriptions of oxycodone utilizing legitimate prescription paper delivered to his residence. He also admitted to fabricating the prescribing information of legitimate physicians obtained from the website DEANumber.com, and using primarily fictitious patient names. Granberry then recruited a network of co-conspirators who used individuals called “runners” to fill these fraudulent prescriptions at various pharmacies.  After acquiring the fraudulently obtained oxycodone from his co-conspirators, Granberry distributed the oxycodone to other individuals for a high profit.  Since 2008, the criminal organization has fraudulently obtained approximately 130,000 oxycodone pills.  Eight other defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced as part of the investigation to date.

Five other defendants are awaiting sentencing: Sheila Coleman will be sentenced July 8; Dmitri Walls-White on July 22; Andre Granberry on August 12; James Powell on September 9, and; Roxanne Granberry on September 16.

This sentencing is the product of a multi-year, multi-jurisdictional, and multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation designated “Operation Circuit Breaker.”  Operation Circuit Breaker focuses upon the illegal procurement and sale of prescription pain medication across the mid-Atlantic region. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Hayden and Anna G. Kaminska, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Rossi are prosecuting the case.

The U.S. Attorney thanked the Department of Defense–Office of the Inspector General, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, Virginia State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for their assistance in this matter.

This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Circuit Breaker, which focuses on the illegal procurement and sale of prescription pain medication across the mid-Atlantic region.  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:14-cr-284, 1:14-cr-340, 1:14-cr-389, 1:15-cr-29, 1:16-cr-16, 1:16-cr-26, and 1:16-cr-28.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – James Aubrey Brown, IV, 40, of Woodbridge, who was convicted by a federal jury on charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor on March 3, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his crimes. Brown was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Brown responded to a Craigslist ad purportedly posted by a 13-year-old girl living on Marine Corps Base Quantico.  Over a period of 12 days and an exchange of over 275 emails, Brown repeatedly pressed the girl to meet and engage in sexual acts, including oral and vaginal sex. He also solicited nude photos of the girl.  Ultimately, he arranged to come to Marine Corps Base Quantico to have sex with the girl.  Over email, he directed her as to what to wear and what do when he arrived.  On the morning of Sept. 14, 2015, Brown arrived at the meeting location where he was arrested for attempting to persuade a person he believed to be a 13 year-old to engage in sexual activity that would be criminal under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Jeremy Gauthier, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Dougherty Russell and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Longobardo prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-cr-342.

RICHMOND, Va. – Capri M. Williams, 25, of Richmond, pleaded guilty today to identity theft and bank fraud charges related to her stealing personal identifying information (PII) of hundreds of patients while employed at Commonwealth Primary Care (CPC), Inc., in Richmond.   

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, in February 2015 Williams was employed as a licensed practical nurse by CPC, and had access to PII of patients at CPC. On Feb. 11, 2015, Williams accessed the PII of B.S., a patient who had received care at CPC.  That same day, Williams used B.S.’s name, date of birth, and Social Security number to apply for a credit card with Citibank. The application was approved and Williams eventually used the account to issue a balance transfer check made out to her for $4,500. After receiving the check she deposited it into an account in her name. The total loss amount of Williams’ conduct is at least $34,906.15.

Williams was charged by criminal information on June 17, and will be sentenced on September 15.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Maria L. Kelokates, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Roderick C. Young.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather L. Hart and David Harbach are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-76.