Western District of Virginia

ABINGDON, Va. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia announced today it has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with Michael Elijah Leonard, a member of the Town Council in Lebanon, Virginia and his sister Amber Musick. The pair have interests in several automotive groups and previously made money winning bids to do work for the Town of Lebanon.

According to court documents, Michael Elijah Leonard serves on Town Council in Lebanon, Virginia and has done so since 2020.  He also is a director and owner of Leonard Automotive. In or about December 2022, Leonard’s sister, Amber Musick, submitted bids for work with the Town of Lebanon under the name Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc.   Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc. was solely owned by Musick and had no assets.  Leonard Automotive provided all of the services for any contracts secured by Appalachian Collision.

Leonard abstained from the Town Council votes on the bids submitted by Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc.  However, he knew that the work was to be done by Leonard Automotive.  The Town of Lebanon paid Appalachian Collision over $10,000 for the work done by Leonard’s company.

In December of last year, the United States Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Virginia, Leonard Automotive, Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc., Michael Elijah Leonard, and Amber Musick agreed, among other things, that Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc. would disgorge the monies it received from the Town of Lebanon for work it billed but was actually performed by Leonard Automotive.  The parties also agreed that Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc. should be dissolved and that the subjects would submit all bids made to public entities only in the name of Leonard Automotive.

Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement today.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Macon is prosecuting the case.

ROANOKE, Va. – A former professor of communications at Virginia Tech, who used peer-to-peer filesharing software to download child pornography, was sentenced last week to 60 months in federal prison.

In September 2024, Michael Horning, 51, of Christiansburg, Va., pled guilty to a one-count Information charging him with knowingly possessing one or more visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including prepubescent minors and minors who have not yet attained 12 years of age.

According to court documents, Horning downloaded child pornography between 2009 and 2021, sometimes through use of the peer-to-peer filesharing program, Freenet. At the time his electronic devices were seized in December 2021, Horning was in possession of 663 images and fourteen videos depicting child pornography, as well as additional child sex abuse material.

Of this child sex abuse material, thirty-eight images and one video depicted infants or toddlers and one video depicted sadomasochism.

Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff prosecuted the case.

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

ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man, who robbed, shot, and killed his drug supplier then later burned the body to conceal his crimes, pled guilty today in Federal Court in Roanoke.

Joseph Richard Walker, 30, pled guilty today to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence. He faces up to 35 years in prison.

A second man, Garrett Isaac Williams, has been indicted on related charges and is pending trial.

“The Department of Justice has no greater mission than to hold accountable those individuals who commit violence in our communities,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “Our strong partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are critical in bringing about successful prosecutions of our most violent criminals.  The Department will continue to fight against gun violence through important prosecutions like this one and in conjunction with programs such as Project Safe Neighborhoods.”

“This multiyear investigation and subsequent guilty plea reflect the diligent and collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies committed to safeguarding our communities. Gun violence and drug trafficking have no place in our neighborhoods, and FBI Richmond is proud to work alongside our Safe Streets Task Force partners to hold accountable those who seek to undermine the safety and security of our citizens,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division.

“The Virginia State Police is committed to bringing violent offenders to justice. Our special agents work tirelessly with our federal and local partners every day to make Virginia a safer place to live," said Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Hanley, Interim Superintendent of Virginia State Police.  "This judicial outcome is a victory for the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

According to court documents, beginning no later than January 2023, Mr. Walker and Mr. Williams conspired to distribute marijuana. Their source of supply was E.B., an individual who lived in Pennsylvania. E.B. often traveled from Pennsylvania to Roanoke to meet Walker and Williams to conduct marijuana sales. These sales often occurred at Walker’s Roanoke residence.

Eventually, in an effort to collect money that he was owed, E.B. inadvertently called Mr. Walker’s mother. This phone call caused Walker and Williams to set in motion a plan to end their relationship with E.B. However, instead of paying E.B. the money that was owed, they planned to order more marijuana from E.B., rob E.B. of that marijuana when he made the delivery, and in so doing, scare him from returning to Virginia.

On April 17, 2023, E.B. traveled from Pennsylvania to Walker’s residence bringing with him approximately 10 pounds of marijuana and two pounds of marijuana wax. Prior to E.B.’s arrival, Walker had concealed a Sig Sauer, .45 caliber pistol on his person, intending to use it as part of the robbery. Upon E.B.’s arrival, Walker confronted E.B. about the phone call E.B. made to his mother, before ultimately shooting him twice, killing him.

To conceal his crime, Walker dragged E.B.’s body out of his residence, placed it in the truck of his car and drove to Bedford County, Virginia where he set it on fire. Prior to departing his residence in E.B.’s car, Walker took the marijuana that E.B. had brought with him. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Virginia State Police, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,  Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Roanoke City Police Department, the Roanoke County Police Department, the City of Lynchburg Police Department, and the Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office are investigating the case.

The Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force also aided in the investigation and is comprised of officers from the Roanoke City Police Department, Roanoke County Police Department, City of Salem Virginia Police Department, the Vinton Police Department, and Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Salem Field Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Coleman Adams and Kelly McGann are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman.

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

LYNCHBURG, Va. – A former Army officer and attorney assigned to the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (JAG School) in Charlottesville, Virginia, was sentenced today to 54 months in federal prison on multiple federal charges related to his destruction of U.S. Army property and subsequent false statements to federal investigators.

Manfredo Martin-Michael Madrigal, 38, formerly of Charlottesville, Va., pled guilty in July 2024 to one count of destruction of U.S. Army materials and three counts of making a false statement.

According to court documents, in February 2022, Madrigal was assigned to a staff position at the JAG School in the Training Developments Directorate, whose mission was to design and develop training products for the JAG Corps and the Army.  Madrigal possessed an active security clearance and previously served overseas on sensitive operations.

In early 2022, Madrigal was under investigation by the U.S. Army and the JAG School for failing to report a previous arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). While his Army investigation was pending, Madrigal deleted, without authorization, online JAG training materials and filmed himself doing so while graphically describing his ill-will towards the Army. The FBI’s investigation also  revealed that Madrigal made a phone call to the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C. the same night that he deleted the training materials and then texted a witness that Russia wanted to know what he knew.

On February 22, 2022, Madrigal was discharged from the JAG School and claimed in his exit paperwork that he had no unreported contact with a foreign national. In April and May 2022, Madrigal was interviewed by the FBI about his actions.  In these interviews, Madrigal made multiple false statements regarding his actions, including denying any involvement in the deletion of materials and that he only learned of the deletion from a coworker, as well as falsely denying his contact with a foreign national at the Embassy.

Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee of the Western District of Virginia and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Attorneys Katie Burroughs Medearis, Vito A. Iaia, Sean M. Welsh, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Joyce are prosecuting the case for the United States.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The owner of the Taste of India, a medium-sized grocery store in Lynchburg, Virginia, was arrested today on criminal charges related to his alleged fraud regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. SNAP was established by the United States Government to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among low- and middle-income families by increasing their food purchasing power and ability.

In a criminal complaint filed today, Rajan Babbar, 59, of Lynchburg, is charged with food stamp fraud and wire fraud. Babbar was arrested earlier today without incident.

According to court documents, in 2016 Babbar filed paperwork with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for Taste of India to become a SNAP retailer. In approximately December 2016, FNS approved Babbar’s application.

In approximately September 2018, FNS noticed that Taste of India had some unusual activity with its food stamp redemptions. Subsequently, FNS placed Taste of India on their “watch list” to further monitor the store’s activities.

Scrutiny of Taste of India led to a civil investigation and penalty in 2020. On four out of five separate encounters between March 2019 and February 2020, undercover investigators with FNS made unauthorized purchases of ineligible items using SNAP EBT cards, primarily for cosmetic and hygiene products. Based on that, FNS determined that Taste of India was in violation of program rules. Babbar ultimately paid a $1,932 civil penalty in lieu of a six-month disqualification. However, he was allowed to continue to operate as a SNAP retailer.

According to the criminal complaint filed today, USDA-OIG agents began to review the food stamp redemptions for Taste of India and noticed the redemptions seemed unusually high for this type of store and location. The dollar amount of SNAP redemptions skyrocketed at Taste of India during a relatively short span. In January 2018, the store completed approximately $2,500 in monthly SNAP transactions; that figure was more than $30,000 by May 2021. By February 2023, Taste of India was redeeming more than $104,000 in SNAP funds. Throughout this period, Taste of India remained at the same location and in the same sized building.

USDA-OIG, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lynchburg Police Department, proceeded to conduct undercover operations at Taste of India in the spring of 2023. On three occasions between April and September 2023, an undercover source entered Taste of India and another store then operated by Babbar and attempted to exchange SNAP benefits for cash. On all three occasions, Babbar agreed to the exchange and provided cash to the undercover source. No product or merchandise was sold.

Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the USDA-OIG, and Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement today.

The USDA-OIG, FBI, and Lynchburg Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Brett is prosecuting the case.

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

HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Maryland man, who used the drug dependency of multiple adult women to compel them to engage in commercial sex work, was sentenced today to 18 years in federal prison.

William O’Neil Murray III, 36, pled guilty in August 2024 to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. In addition to jail time, Murray was also ordered to pay $94,190 in restitution to his victims.

“The fight against human trafficking is a cornerstone of the Department of Justice,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “Every day the men and women who investigate and prosecute these cases fight to protect those who are victims of these heinous crimes. I am grateful to the FBI, Virginia State Police, and Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for bringing this matter to justice.”

“This sentencing is a powerful reminder that the FBI Richmond team will tirelessly work to free victims of sex trafficking and bring to justice those who seek to exploit their vulnerabilities for personal gain,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “I commend our team and partners on the I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force who investigated these heinous crimes here in Virginia and along the east coast.  Every month, and especially during Human Trafficking Awareness month, we encourage the public to recognize the signs of human trafficking and report concerns to tips.fbi.gov.”

"Human trafficking investigations can be very complex" said Lieutenant Colonel Matt Hanley, Interim Superintendent of Virginia State Police. "I commend the investigative team for the outstanding cooperation that brought this case to a close."

According to court documents, beginning in December 2021 and continuing through July 2022, Murray engaged in a multistate sex trafficking operation involving at least three adult female victims.  Murray recruited and coerced his victims into commercial sex work using their drug dependency as his primary method of control.

Murray controlled his victims’ narcotics supply and usage, not allowing them to obtain drugs from anyone but himself. Murray would withhold drugs from his victims if they did not follow his directions or engage in commercial sex.  Many of the victims described becoming “dopesick” when Murray withheld drugs from them. Thus, Murray stood between them and the threat of painful withdrawal. Murray knew that withholding drugs from the victims would have a coercive effect and incentivize them to obey him and continue engaging in commercial sex.

Murray managed every aspect of the commercial sex transactions for his victims. The defendant used various commercial sex websites, such as Skipthegames.com and Backpage.com, to set up dates with commercial sex customers, set the prices, booked the hotel rooms, and transported his victims to the dates. And in most cases, Murray received all the proceeds from the commercial sex acts.

Murray maintained strict control over his victims’ activities including requiring them to stay in communication with him while they completed their commercial sex “dates.” Victims were not allowed to go anywhere without Murray’s permission and were punished if they did so.

The criminal behavior occurred in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force (I-81 HTTF), the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.

The I-81 HTTF is a collaborative effort of law enforcement and community partners focused on identifying instances of human trafficking along the I-81 corridor in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland; prosecuting those responsible; and providing assistance to the victims impacted by these crimes.  The I-81 HTTF includes law enforcement from Frederick, Clarke, and Shenandoah counties as well as the cities and towns of Front Royal, Hagerstown, and Frederick, Maryland, and Lord Fairfax Community College.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie Smith, Sally J. Sullivan and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James with the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit of the Department of Justice are prosecuting the case for the United States. 

Roanoke, Va. – A local man indicted by a federal grand jury last month on bank robbery charges, made his initial court appearance yesterday in federal court.

Michael Anthony McCoy, 67, of Roanoke, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Roanoke on one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of bank robbery (one of which includes the use of a dangerous weapon), and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. McCoy was arrested late last year in Newport News, Virginia, on other charges.

A second defendant, Dawn Davis, previously pleaded guilty to related charges.

According to the indictment, on October 26, 2022, McCoy directed Davis to write a threatening note to use in a bank robbery. After Davis wrote the note as directed, McCoy entered the Truist Bank location on NW Melrose Avenue in the City of Roanoke and handed the note to a bank teller. After McCoy handed the note to the teller, he approached a second teller and brandished a firearm.

McCoy and Davis stole approximately $6,485 from the Truist Bank location.

Two days later, McCoy then robbed another Truist Bank, stealing nearly $6,000 from that bank as well.

Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Beamer, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, are prosecuting the case.

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

ABINGDON, Va. – A former senior partner at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm based in New York, N.Y., that last month agreed to pay $650 million to resolve criminal and civil investigations into the firm’s consulting work with opioids manufacturers, including Purdue Pharma, L.P., pled guilty today to obstructing justice related to his work on Purdue matters.

Martin Elling, 60, a U.S. citizen residing in Bangkok, Thailand, waived his right to be indicted and pled guilty today to a one-count Information charging him with knowingly destroying records with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice.

“Today’s guilty plea moves us forward in holding accountable not only those corporations responsible for the opioid crisis in America, but also the executives that have exacerbated the tragedy,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “This prosecution would not have been possible without the efforts of many- including the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Boston and here in the Western District of Virginia, but also the countless hours of work by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Justice Civil Division, FDA, HHS, the Veteran’s Administration-OIG and the FBI. A matter this significant takes a team and we had a great one. I am thankful to each and every person who put in the time to make this prosecution happen.”

“Mr. Elling’s guilty plea is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to address the full scope of misconduct that fueled the opioid epidemic. By attempting to obstruct and influence the investigation into McKinsey’s work with Purdue Pharma, Mr. Elling sought to undermine justice and shield evidence about his and McKinsey’s role in this devastating public health crisis,” said Joshua S. Levy, United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. “The Department of Justice remains steadfast in our resolve to ensure that those whose conduct contributed to this epidemic are held fully accountable for their actions.”

“Knowingly destroying records and documents to impede a government investigation into the unlawful prescribing of opioids impairs the ability of law enforcement to do its job and endangers the public health,” said Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who attempt to thwart these important investigations and whose actions put profits over patient safety.”

“On the heels of a historic $650 million judgment against the world's largest consulting firm, I am pleased to see that those who knowingly obstructed justice will share in both the culpability and be held accountable for their actions,” said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. “The victims deserve to know the full truth and not a limited and antiseptic version of what happened.  Justice deserves transparency and I am thankful to the US Department of Justice and Virginia's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their continued and exemplary work.”

According to court documents, in May 2013, Purdue engaged McKinsey to recover lost OxyContin sales. Purdue retained McKinsey to conduct a rapid assessment of the underlying drivers of OxyContin performance, identify key opportunities to increase near-term OxyContin revenue and develop plans to capture priority opportunities. This 2013 effort was called Evolve to Excellence, or “E2E,” and included McKinsey advising Purdue on how to “turbocharge” the sales pipeline for OxyContin by, among other strategies, intensifying marketing to High Value Prescribers.

Elling served as the director of the client services team for approximately 30 of McKinsey’s engagements with Purdue. He had a senior, relationship-focused role with respect to the E2E engagement and was involved in securing the engagement for McKinsey.

On July 4, 2018, Elling emailed another senior partner: “Just saw in the FT that [Purdue board member] is being sued by states attorneys general for her role on the [Purdue] Board. It probably makes sense to have a quick conversation with the risk committee to see if we should be doing anything other [than] eliminating all our documents and emails. Suspect not but as things get tougher there someone might turn to us.”

According to court documents, forensic analysis of Elling’s McKinsey-issued laptop found that Elling in fact deleted materials related to McKinsey’s work for Purdue from the laptop, as well as a Purdue-related folder from his Outlook email account. On August 22, 2018, Elling emailed himself an apparent to-do list, with the subject line, “When home.” The items listed included: “delete old pur [Purdue Pharma] documents from laptop[.]” Forensic analysis of Elling’s laptop by the Department of Justice’s Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section determined that between approximately April 2018 and September 2018, Elling removed a folder titled “Purdue” (which included a subfolder entitled “Strategy”) from his Windows operating system that contained more than 100 items for whom the filenames indicate they were from as far back as 2004 and included the name of the Purdue Pharma CEO at the time of the origination of the Purdue Pharma engagements with McKinsey. The CEO was among the former Purdue Pharma executives who, in 2007, pled guilty and was convicted of misbranding in United States District Court in Abingdon.

On August 25, 2018, Elling emailed himself the following, “Remove Pur[due] folder from garbage[.]” Elling was aware of the investigations into Purdue Pharma’s conduct and knowingly deleted folders, documents, and emails from his McKinsey-issued laptop knowing these documents would be pertinent to those investigations.

Elling is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4 at 1:00 p.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The criminal case against Elling and McKinsey is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia; Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda P. Masselam Strachan and William B. Brady of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts; Senior Trial Counsel Kristen M. Echemendia of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section); Trial Attorneys Jessica Harvey and Steven R. Scott of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch; and Special Assistant United States Attorneys and Assistant Attorneys General Kristin Gray and Kimberly Bolton of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The matter was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Offices of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Office of Personnel Management, with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Charlottsville-based, virtual bodybuilding coach, who sexually exploited at least six minors over the course of six years, was sentenced yesterday to 254 months in federal prison.

Elliott Atwell, 35, pled guilty in June 2024 to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography.

“This defendant targeted young people who put their trust in him as a coach and mentor and violated that trust to satisfy his own desires,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “I am grateful to the men and women of the FBI who tirelessly investigated this case and brought some semblance of justice to the victims. Cases like these remind us how vulnerable our young people are and how vigilant we must be to protect them from manipulative online predators.”

“FBI Richmond is unwavering in its commitment to seeking justice for victims of child exploitation. Today's guilty verdict is the culmination of years of relentless work and dedication by our agents and analysts,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Division said today. “Together with our partners, the FBI will continue protecting our children by removing harmful predators from our communities.”

According to court documents, between December 2013 and April 2020, Atwell portrayed himself as a virtual bodybuilding coach for high-school bodybuilders.  He approached minors online to purportedly mentor them and quickly transitioned their conversations and alleged bodybuilding training to the topics of sex and sexuality. Under the guise of coaching, Atwell would encourage the minors to send nude photographs and videos of themselves.  Atwell further manipulated at least six minors to record themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct and then send those recordings to him.

In efforts to gain the victims’ trust and willingness to participate, Atwell sent them gifts, including a digital camera, and other sexual-related items. Atwell then gave detailed instructions on what sexual activities he wanted the minors to perform and capture on video.

In addition, the FBI searched Atwell’s iCloud account, which contained over 300 images and video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including images of prepubescent boys engaged in sex acts.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith and Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.

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

ABINGDON, Va. – The owner of Randy’s Gateway Drug in Cedar Bluff, Virginia, was sentenced recently to 18 months in prison on federal healthcare fraud charges after pleading guilty in May for conduct that caused $1.3 million in losses to the federal government.

Randy Yost, 72, of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, pled guilty in May 2024 to one count of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, and one count of distributing oxycodone.

According to court documents, Yost owned Randy’s Gateway Drug, a participating provider of Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare. Between April 2016 and June 2023, Yost, and others, dispensed cheaper generic medications for Schedule II drugs such as Oxycontin to customers, yet billed the government healthcare benefits programs for the more expensive brand name medications.

In addition, Yost billed the government healthcare benefits programs and other insurance companies for prescription medications that were not dispensed to patients.

Yost also billed for prescription medications that were dispensed to patients and then returned to the pharmacy by those same patients, but the charge to the government healthcare benefits programs was not reversed. Instead, the returned medications were dispensed again and billed a second time.

In February 2023 and February 2024, a government analysis comparing medications ordered by Randy’s Gateway Drug’s billed to government healthcare benefits programs was completed. That analysis showed an adjusted loss to the government of $1,309,515. As a result, Yost was ordered to pay restitution in the amounts of $1,035,279.44, to Medicare, $271,274.03 to Virginia Medicaid, and $2,961.75 to TriCare. 

Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division Jarod Forget, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement..

The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- Office of Inspector General, Virginia Office of the Attorney General- Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service- Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

Special Assistant United States Attorney and Virginia Assistant Attorney General Janine Myatt and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone prosecuted the case.

ABINGDON, Va. – Joel Smithers, a Martinsville-based doctor, was found guilty of multiple drug charges at the conclusion of a three-week jury trial last week in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Acting United States Attorney Zachary T Lee announced.

The jury convicted Smithers, 42, after sixteen hours of deliberation, on one count of maintaining a place for the purpose of illegally distributing controlled substances and 466 counts of illegally prescribing Schedule II controlled substances.

“Patients trust doctors to make decisions based on their healthcare needs, not a perversion of their own greed,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “For many years, this defendant betrayed the trust placed in him by his patients, his community, and the medical profession as a whole through his illegal distribution of thousands of medically unnecessary opioids. I am grateful to the entire prosecution team for bringing this case to justice.”

“Physicians have critical roles in addressing the opioid epidemic and ensuring appropriate care for patients with pain and other illness,” mentioned DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Shane Todd. “Healthcare providers have a vital responsibility when it comes to properly prescribing and dispensing medications and must be vigilant to prevent diversion. Today’s conviction demonstrates Smithers’s criminal indifference to the lives of others, and to the families who loved them. His reckless and fraudulent practices placed profits over the lives of his patients. We’re working hard with our partners to keep our communities and families safe from such tragic outcomes.”

“The existence of these 'pill mills' flooding southwest Virginia with controlled substances violates one of the first principles of the Hippocratic Oath: to do no harm,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares.  “Joel Smithers did not seek to treat patients but rather sought to destroy lives for profit.  I am grateful to both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for their resilience and professionalism in this and many other instances.  My special thanks goes out to Virginia's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their exemplary work in keeping our citizens safe.”

Evidence presented at trial showed Smithers opened an office in Martinsville in August 2015 and prescribed controlled substances to every patient in his practice, resulting in over 500,000 Schedule II controlled substances being distributed.  The drugs involved included oxymorphone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and fentanyl. A majority of those receiving prescriptions from Smithers traveled hundreds of miles, one-way, to receive the drugs. Smithers did not accept insurance and took in over $700,000 in cash and credit card payments prior to a search warrant being executed at his office on March 7, 2017.

Smithers was previously convicted in 2019 of these charges. However, after his conviction, the United States Supreme Court changed the law concerning jury instructions in cases involving illegal distribution of controlled substances by health care providers. Accordingly, a new trial was ordered.

Smithers has remained in custody since his original conviction in 2019. Sentencing is scheduled for March 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in Abingdon.  For each distribution count, Smithers faces a maximum sentence of imprisonment for a term of 20 years and a fine of $1,000,000. The conviction for maintaining a place for the illegal distribution of controlled substances carries a maximum sentence of imprisonment for a term of 20 years and a fine of $500,000.

The case was investigated by the Roanoke offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad and the Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.  Task force officers with the police departments of Bristol, Martinsville, Buena Vista, Roanoke, and Roanoke County; the Sheriff’s Offices of Henry County and Pittsylvania County; the Virginia State Police; and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General assisted in the investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Randy Ramseyer and Corey Hall, and Special Assistant United States Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, prosecuted the case in this most-recent trial for the United States.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced today that he will step down as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, resigning from the Department of Justice, effective Friday, December 20, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. after serving more than three years in office.

“Four years ago, Chris Kavanaugh was one of the first people I brought in to join the Office of the Deputy Attorney General because of his experience within the Department and his leadership on national security issues,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Throughout his distinguished career – at Main Justice, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia and the Western District of Virginia, and as United States Attorney – Chris has served the Department and his fellow Virginians with integrity and tenacity. I am grateful for his service.”

Mr. Kavanaugh was sworn in by Deputy Attorney General Monaco on October 7, 2021, after having been unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate.  Mr. Kavanaugh was later appointed to be a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, a group that advises the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General on emerging policy issues facing the Department and the United States Attorney community.  Mr. Kavanaugh also chaired the AGAC’s National Security Subcommittee, which supported the Department’s enhanced focus on investigations and prosecutions of malign foreign influence and nation state threats.   

“Chris Kavanaugh has been an incredible partner for ATF and a national leader in the fight against violent crime.  He has worked side-by-side with law enforcement to bring impactful cases, prosecute dangerous criminals, and lead in the innovative use of Crime Gun Intelligence to make Virginia, and this Nation, safer,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

During his tenure, Mr. Kavanaugh led the U.S. Attorney’s Office through a transitional period, expanding its footprint, hiring a record number of federal prosecutors and staff, and spearheading ground-breaking criminal and affirmative civil enforcements.

“Every day, the public servants of United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia work to make the District – and our Nation – a safer and better place for us all,” United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today.  “It has been the honor of my life to lead this team of selfless individuals who are so dedicated to fairness, the rule of law, and doing what is right.  I know that WDVA will continue to make an outsized impact as citizens of the Justice Department, and I look forward to its future.

I thank President Biden for nominating me, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine for their recommendation, and Attorney General Garland and Deputy Attorney General Monaco for leading the Department and supporting the United States Attorney community during my tenure.  It has been an honor to serve the American people.”

Under Mr. Kavanaugh’s leadership, the Western District of Virginia has achieved notable successes in numerous complex criminal and civil cases. For example:

United States v. McKinsey & Company

For the first time ever, a management consulting firm was held criminally responsible for advice resulting in the commission of a crime by a client, Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. McKinsey & Company agreed to pay $650 million to resolve criminal and civil investigations into the firm’s consulting work, including a 2013 engagement with Purdue Pharma which McKinsey advised on steps to ‘turbocharge’ sales of OxyContin.  A former senior partner at McKinsey & Company also agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of obstruction of justice for deleting Purdue related documents in an attempt to obstruct future investigations.

United States v. Envigo

In 2024, the Western District of Virginia obtained criminal convictions of Envigo, a biotechnology company dedicated to breeding animals for medical research with locations throughout North America.  WDVA’s investigation revealed that Envigo was mistreating animals in violation of the Animal Welfare Act and polluting waterways in violation of the Clean Water Act.  After a federal search warrant was executed, the Justice Department secured the surrender of over 4,000 beagles from an Envigo facility in Cumberland, Virginia. Envigo pled guilty to violating the Animal Welfare Act and the Clean Water Act, agreeing to pay more than $35 million in criminal penalties and fines – a record for any prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act.

The Killing of Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler

Tragedy struck the small town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia in the early morning hours of November 13, 2021, when Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler was murdered while responding to a disturbance call.  The United States Attorney’s Office for WDVA brought federal charges against not only the person who shot and killed Chandler, Michael Donivan White, but also 18 other defendants who were a part of a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.  Over the last few years, every single defendant has been convicted. White is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2025 and faces between 40- and 100-years’ incarceration.

The Bribery Trial of Sheriff Scott Jenkins

This week, a federal jury in the Charlottesville Division of WDVA returned guilty verdicts on all counts against former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins.  Jenkins had accepted numerous cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions from at least eight different people – one of whom he believed to be a felon – in exchange for appointing them as Auxiliary Deputy Sheriffs.  A jury found Jenkins guilty of bribery, honest services fraud, and conspiracy after a trial and he will be sentenced in March 2025.

District Transformation

In addition to the case work victories, under Mr. Kavanaugh’s leadership, the U.S Attorney’s Office itself has transformed. Offices in Abingdon and Charlottesville have expanded, and the Office was awarded a nearly 20% increase in Assistant United States Attorneys, expanding the level of federal prosecutors to their highest levels in history.  In a challenging budget climate, Mr. Kavanaugh has also made strides to modernize the Office’s capabilities to process voluminous amounts of documents for its more sophisticated prosecutions.

“On behalf of FBI Richmond, I sincerely thank Chris Kavanaugh for his service as U.S. Attorney. His unwavering commitment to justice and his exceptional partnership have been instrumental in advancing our shared mission of keeping Virginia safe. Chris’ leadership and collaboration have made a profound impact, and we deeply appreciate his dedication to ensuring the rule of law prevails,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Richmond Division.

“U.S. Attorney Kavanaugh’s leadership and vision have been instrumental in our initiatives to safeguard the health and safety of the citizens of Western Virginia. His determination in developing effective judicial strategies have contributed to the dismantling of many drug-trafficking networks and significantly mitigating this threat to our communities. We extend our best wishes to him in his future endeavors,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division.

Prior to his time as United States Attorney, Mr. Kavanaugh was an Assistant United States Attorney for 14 years, having served in United States Attorney’s Offices for both the Western District of Virginia and the District of Columbia.  During his career, Mr. Kavanaugh directed numerous multi-agency investigations and prosecutions, with a focus on national security, white-collar crime, civil rights, and violent crimes involving racketeering and homicides. In WDVA, he served as the District’s chief national security prosecutor and Senior Litigation Counsel.  Among other matters, he led the Department’s investigations and prosecutions into the Unite the Right riots of August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Just prior to his confirmation, Mr. Kavanaugh was Senior Counsel to Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

ABINGDON, Va. – First Assistant United States Attorney Zachery T. Lee will serve as the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, effective December 21, 2024, at 12:00 a.m. He is assuming the office under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, 5 U.S.C § 3345, upon the departure of United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, who announced his resignation earlier this year.

“For two decades, Zach Lee has served the Western District of Virginia with honor, distinction, and dedication as an Assistant United States Attorney, Criminal Chief, and most recently as First Assistant United States Attorney,” United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “There is nobody more qualified to serve in this role, and I look forward to watching the United States Attorney’s Office continue to thrive and serve the citizens of the Western District of Virginia under his leadership.”

“In my role as the First Assistant United States Attorney, I’ve had the privilege to work side-by-side with Chris Kavanaugh on our district’s most pressing matters,” Mr. Lee said today. “We are sad to see Chris leave the Western District after more than a decade of service, but I promise to keep the men and women who work here focused on the priorities he’s put in place: Keeping our District safe, ensuring civil rights, reducing gun violence, and leading complex white collar investigations and prosecutions.”

Mr. Lee, 48, has served the Department of Justice since joining the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia in 2005 as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, transitioning to an Assistant United States Attorney in 2007. During his tenure, Mr. Lee has prosecuted complex narcotics, public corruption, firearms, and other criminal matters. He also served in the district’s leadership team as Criminal Chief and First Assistant United States Attorney.

Prior to his employment with the Department of Justice, Mr. Lee served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Bristol, Virginia, and as a law clerk to the Honorable James P. Jones, United States District Judge for the Western District of Virginia.

He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming College of Law, Laramie, Wyoming, and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia. 

CHARLOTTSEVILLE, Va. – A former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, was convicted by a jury in Charlottesville, Virginia, yesterday for accepting over $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointments as auxiliary deputy sheriffs.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Scott Howard Jenkins, 53, of Culpeper, Virginia, accepted cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions from co-defendants Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner, and James Metcalf, as well as at least five others, including two FBI undercover agents. In return, Jenkins appointed each of the bribe payors as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them official Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and credentials. The bribe payors were not trained or vetted and did not render any legitimate services to the Sheriff’s Office.

In addition, Jenkins pressured other local officials to approve a petition filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court by Rahim, a convicted felon, to restore his right to possess a firearm and which falsely stated that Rahim resided in Culpeper County.

Jenkins was convicted of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud, and seven counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy count, 20 years in prison on each of the honest services fraud counts, and 10 years in prison on each of the bribery counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Rahim, Gumbinner, and Metcalf all previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the bribery scheme and will be sentenced at a later date.

U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Richmond Field Office, Charlottesville Resident Agency is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith for the Western District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys Celia Choy and Lina Peng of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and are prosecuting the case. 

A former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, was convicted by a jury in Charlottesville, Virginia, yesterday for accepting over $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointments as auxiliary deputy sheriffs.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Scott Howard Jenkins, 53, of Culpeper, Virginia, accepted cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions from co-defendants Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner, and James Metcalf, as well as at least five others, including two FBI undercover agents. In return, Jenkins appointed each of the bribe payors as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them official Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and credentials. The bribe payors were not trained or vetted and did not render any legitimate services to the Sheriff’s Office. In addition, Jenkins pressured other local officials to approve a petition filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court by Rahim, a convicted felon, to restore his right to possess a firearm and which falsely stated that Rahim resided in Culpeper County.

Jenkins was convicted of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud, and seven counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy count, 20 years in prison on each of the honest services fraud counts, and 10 years in prison on each of the bribery counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Rahim, Gumbinner, and Metcalf all previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the bribery scheme and will be sentenced at a later date.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia; and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Richmond Field Office, Charlottesville Resident Agency is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Celia Choy and Lina Peng of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith for the Western District of Virginia are prosecuting the case, with assistance provided by PIN Paralegal Specialist Lauren Fastenau.

ABINGDON, Va. – McKinsey & Company Inc. (McKinsey), a global management consulting firm based in New York, has agreed to pay $650 million to resolve a criminal and civil investigation into the firm’s consulting work with opioids manufacturer Purdue Pharma L.P. (Purdue). The resolution pertains to McKinsey’s advice to Purdue concerning the sales and marketing of Purdue’s extended-release opioid drug, OxyContin, including a 2013 engagement in which McKinsey advised on steps to “turbocharge” sales of OxyContin.

Today’s resolution marks the first time a management consulting firm has been held criminally responsible for advice resulting in the commission of a crime by a client and reflects the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to hold actors accountable for their roles in the opioid crisis. The resolution is also the largest civil recovery for such conduct.

Additionally, a former McKinsey senior partner who worked on Purdue matters has been charged with obstruction of justice in federal court in Abingdon, Virginia. Martin E. Elling, 60, a U.S. citizen currently residing in Bangkok, Thailand, has been charged with one count of knowingly destroying records, documents and tangible objects with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of the Justice Department. Elling has agreed to plead guilty and is expected to appear in federal court in Abingdon to enter his plea and for sentencing at later dates.

As part of the government’s resolution with McKinsey, the company has entered into a five-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) (part one and part two) in connection with a criminal Information filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia against McKinsey’s U.S. subsidiary (McKinsey & Company Inc. United States, “McKinsey U.S.”). The information charges McKinsey U.S. with one felony count of knowingly destroying records, documents and tangible objects with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of the Justice Department; and one misdemeanor count of knowingly and intentionally conspiring with Purdue and others to aid and abet the misbranding of prescription drugs, held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce, without valid prescriptions.

McKinsey has agreed to pay a penalty of over $231 million, a forfeiture amount of over $93 million (reflecting all money it was paid by Purdue from 2004 to 2019) and a payment of $2 million to the Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to resolve the criminal allegations. McKinsey also has entered into a civil settlement agreement in which it will pay over $323 million to resolve its liability under the False Claims Act for allegedly providing advice to Purdue Pharma L.P. that caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to federal healthcare programs for medically unnecessary prescriptions of OxyContin, as well as allegedly failing to disclose to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conflicts of interest arising from McKinsey US’s concurrent work for Purdue and the FDA. This brings the total payments under the global resolution to $650 million.

Today’s filing includes a 71-page Agreed Statement of Facts, which provides a detailed account of McKinsey’s work with Purdue relating to OxyContin. As part of the resolution, McKinsey has agreed to implement a significant compliance program, including a system of policies and procedures designed to identify and assess high-risk client engagements. As part of this compliance program, McKinsey will implement new document retention procedures and training for all partners, officers and employees who provide or implement advice to clients. This compliance program is in addition to the provisions negotiated between McKinsey and the Department in a concurrent resolution with McKinsey & Company Africa that was announced on Thursday, Dec. 5.

McKinsey has also agreed that it will not do any work related to the marketing, sale, promotion or distribution of controlled substances during the five-year term of the DPA. The resolution requires McKinsey’s Managing Partner to certify, on an annual basis, the firm’s compliance with its obligations under the DPA and federal law.

“For the first time in history, the Justice Department is holding a management consulting firm and one of its senior executives criminally responsible for the sales and marketing advice it gave resulting in the commission of crime by a client,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia. “This ground-breaking resolution demonstrates the Justice Department’s ongoing commitment to hold accountable those companies and individuals who profited from our Nation’s opioid crisis.”

“This global resolution shows the department’s commitment to holding accountable those who played key roles in fueling the opioid crisis,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Consulting companies cannot advise their clients to break the law, and then skirt responsibility when their clients do so.”

“McKinsey schemed with Purdue Pharma to ‘turbocharge’ OxyContin sales during a raging opioid epidemic — an epidemic that continues to decimate families and communities across the nation. Today’s groundbreaking resolution makes clear our office’s commitment to holding powerful companies accountable for their part in the opioid epidemic, even if they did not make, sell, or dispense the drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “Consulting firms like McKinsey should get the message: if the advice you give to companies in boardrooms and PowerPoint presentations aids and abets criminal activity, we will come after you and we will expose the truth.”

“No amount of money can make-up for the devastating impact and heartbreaking loss of life the opioid crisis has inflicted on the people of Massachusetts, and our country. But today’s settlement is a sobering reminder that if you try to capitalize on a crisis by putting profits over patient safety — and then try to obstruct a federal investigation — you will pay a hefty price,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Boston Field Office. “McKinsey is now being held criminally and financially accountable for devising an aggressive marketing strategy that was in reality a roadmap to boost sales of highly addictive opioids. Their actions resulted in powerful prescription painkillers being used in an unsafe, ineffective, and medically unnecessary manner. As both health care consumers, and taxpayers, this type of fraud negatively impacts all of us.”

“McKinsey’s management consulting work with Purdue Pharmaceuticals significantly contributed to a devastating public health crisis affecting American families and communities nationwide,” said Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is committed to holding accountable those who violate the law and put the public at risk, including health care consultants who are complicit in fraudulent schemes.”

“Aiding and abetting in the potential misbranding and illegal distribution of controlled substances poses a danger to U.S. consumers,” said Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. We will continue to investigate and bring to justice companies whose actions put profits over patient safety.”

“Today’s resolution holds this defendant accountable for its role in the aggressive marketing and promotion of opioids. Their actions led to medically unnecessary opioid prescriptions, which compromised the integrity of VA’s healthcare system that cares for our nation’s veterans,” said Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General Michael J. Missal. “We thank our law enforcement partners for their diligent work in bringing this case to closure.”

“It shocks the conscience that a major consulting corporation would actively seek to increase the submission of fraudulent claims for medically unnecessarily opioid prescriptions in the midst of the opioid crisis,” said Inspector General Krista A. Boyd of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General. “The outstanding efforts of our law enforcement partners and colleagues at the Department of Justice led to this ground-breaking result. We must hold accountable those who prey upon the most vulnerable Americans in the name of increased profits.”

As described in the DPA, McKinsey received credit for its cooperation with the United States in connection with the criminal investigation, including providing updates regarding information obtained through is internal investigation; highlighting documents of interest in voluminous productions; and facilitating interviews. McKinsey also engaged in extensive remedial measures, including voluntarily stopping all work in 2019 on any opioid-specific business issues; terminating two senior partners, including Elling, who communicated about deleting opioid-related documents concerning Purdue; hiring a new chief legal officer and chief ethics and compliance officer; significantly enhancing its new client selection framework; and deploying a formalized diligence review and intake process for all clients. McKinsey has agreed to continue to cooperate with the United States.

McKinsey’s Criminal Liability for Misbranding

The criminal misbranding charge was based on McKinsey’s advice to Purdue Pharma L.P. as set forth in the Agreed Statement of Facts filed today. Between 2004 and 2019, McKinsey contracted with Purdue on 75 different engagements in the United States. In 2007, a Purdue affiliate pleaded guilty to misbranding OxyContin, from 1996 through 2001, by falsely marketing it as less addictive, less subject to abuse and diversion, and less likely to cause dependence and withdrawal than other pain medications, and Purdue entered into a five-year corporate integrity agreement (CIA) with HHS-OIG. After the 2007 guilty plea, McKinsey partners maintained close contact with Purdue, and in 2009, worked with Purdue to enhance “brand loyalty” for OxyContin and protect market share. In 2010 McKinsey worked with Purdue to obtain FDA approval for a version of OxyContin that was reformulated with abuse-deterrent properties. Following the introduction of reformulated OxyContin in August 2010, OxyContin sales immediately began to decline. Purdue studied the drivers for this decline and attributed it, in large part, to a drop in prescriptions for individuals abusing OxyContin and increases in regulatory safeguards intended to hinder medically unnecessary prescribing of OxyContin.

In May 2013, Purdue retained McKinsey to conduct a rapid assessment of the underlying drivers of OxyContin performance, identify key opportunities to increase near-term OxyContin revenue and develop plans to capture priority opportunities. This 2013 effort was called Evolve to Excellence, or “E2E,” and included McKinsey advising Purdue on how to “turbocharge” the sales pipeline for OxyContin by, among other strategies, intensifying marketing to High Value Prescribers, included prescribers who were writing opioid prescriptions for uses that were unsafe, ineffective, and medically unnecessary. McKinsey consultants spoke with Purdue about the concerns and increasing reluctance of pharmacists and pharmacy chains to fill prescriptions for OxyContin as abuse of the drug rose. McKinsey consultants also went on several “ride-alongs” with Purdue sales representatives in the field, as these sales representatives called on prescribers and pharmacists. In notes about one of these ride-alongs, a McKinsey consultant wrote, in part, “Pharmacist; [had] a gun and was shaking; abuse is definitely a huge issue[.]”

In August 2013, McKinsey partners met with certain members of the Purdue Board of Directors (members of the family that controlled Purdue) to present McKinsey’s findings and proposal; as one McKinsey partner reported afterwards, “[b]y the end of the meeting the findings were crystal clear to everyone and they gave a ringing endorsement of ‘moving forward fast.’” McKinsey also described for Purdue the financial value at stake: “hundreds of millions, not tens of millions.”

For Purdue and McKinsey, E2E was a financial success. Their targeting of High Value Prescribers slowed OxyContin’s declining sales and kept Purdue’s profits flowing at the expense of public health. After the conclusion of McKinsey’s work for Purdue on E2E, McKinsey performed additional work with Purdue that also sought to maximize OxyContin sales by further targeting sales efforts to High Value Prescribers.

Obstruction of Justice by Former McKinsey Senior Partner

According to the charging documents filed today, Elling served as the Director of the client services team for approximately 30 of McKinsey’s engagements with Purdue. He had a senior, relationship-focused role with respect to the E2E engagement and was involved in securing the engagement for McKinsey. On July 4, 2018, Elling allegedly emailed another senior partner: “Just saw in the FT that [Purdue board member] is being sued by states attorneys general for her role on the [Purdue] Board. It probably makes sense to have a quick conversation with the risk committee to see if we should be doing anything other [than] eliminating all our documents and emails. Suspect not but as things get tougher there someone might turn to us.” According to court documents, forensic analysis of Elling’s McKinsey-issued laptop found that Elling in fact removed materials related to McKinsey’s work for Purdue from the laptop, as well as a Purdue-related folder from his Outlook email account.

Elling faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000 for the obstruction of justice charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

False Claims to Federal Healthcare Programs

The department’s civil False Claims Act settlement resolves allegations that, from 2013 to 2014, McKinsey US, by advising Purdue to turbocharge OxyContin marketing to High Value Prescribers, some of whom were already prescribing very large quantities of OxyContin, as a means to increase OxyContin sales, and despite its awareness of the opioid crises, thereby knowingly caused false and fraudulent claims for OxyContin to be submitted to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program and the Veterans Health Administration.

Along with the civil settlement, McKinsey US entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with HHS-OIG. The CIA, HHS-OIG’s first with a management consulting firm, contains novel obligations regarding risk assessment and quality control. First, the CIA requires McKinsey’s Compliance Committee to establish a robust risk evaluation process, evaluating engagement risks and providing quality oversight for certain client deliverables. Second, it requires McKinsey to establish a Quality Review Program to assess the quality of McKinsey’s advice to certain life sciences and health care clients with the dual goals of ensuring that McKinsey complies with applicable laws and does not provide or assist clients with plans, advice, or strategies that violate the law. HHS-OIG will select an independent Compliance Expert to review McKinsey’s systems and processes under the Quality Review Program and to review a sample of McKinsey client engagements, including the advice provided to those clients.

False Claims to FDA

The department’s civil False Claims Act settlement also resolves allegations that, from 2014 to 2017, McKinsey US knowingly misled the FDA by assigning consultants to concurrently work on both FDA projects and competitively sensitive Purdue projects, contrary to McKinsey US’ conflict of interest policy. While soliciting a contract from the FDA, McKinsey US represented to the FDA that it had a conflict-of-interest policy in which its consultants serving the FDA would not be assigned to a competitively sensitive project for a significant period of time following an assignment for FDA. The FDA then awarded McKinsey US the first in a series of contracts on a project relating to the monitoring of the safety of FDA-regulated products. McKinsey US admitted that it did not inform the FDA that its consultants worked on the Purdue projects around the same time those consultants also worked on the FDA project.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer for the Western District of Virginia; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda P. Masselam Strachan and William B. Brady for the District of Massachusetts; Senior Trial Counsel Kristen M. Echemendia of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; Trial Attorneys Jessica Harvey and Steven R. Scott of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch; and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Assistant Attorneys General Kristin Gray and Kimberly Bolton of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are prosecuting the criminal case against Elling and McKinsey.

The civil resolution was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section. The FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, FBI and Offices of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veterans Affairs and Office of Personnel Management investigated the case, with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section Cybercrime Lab.

The details contained in the charging documents and civil resolution are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ABINGDON, Va. – The leader of a 20-member conspiracy that distributed numerous kilograms of methamphetamine throughout southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee was sentenced today in federal court.

Christopher “CJ” Johnson, 47, of Bristol, Tennessee, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Today he was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, which he will serve following his release from the Georgia Department of Corrections.   

According to court documents, in 2020 Johnson and Noah Bryan Horn were arrested in Georgia with four kilograms of methamphetamine, two pistols, and heroin.  As a result, Johnson received a 25-year prison sentence in the Georgia Department of Corrections.  But, by mid-2022, Johnson had launched another methamphetamine conspiracy.  From prison in Georgia, Johnson used a contraband cell phone to communicate with people outside of prison to coordinate his multi-state drug trafficking scheme. Co-conspirators would travel to Georgia to collect large amounts of methamphetamine from Johnson’s designated sources, send payments to Johnson via CashApp and other means, and then bring the drugs back to southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee for further distribution. Johnson also coordinated deliveries of fentanyl and ecstasy during the conspiracy.  

At one point, Johnson was responsible for a large percentage of the overall methamphetamine market in both the Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee areas.

Others who have previously pleaded guilty as part of the conspiracy included individuals from Virginia and Tennessee: Noah Bryan Horn, Nicholas Alexander Courtney, Michael Paul Brown, Jeremy Wayne Maxfield, Kenneth Lee Trivette, Olivia Abigail Coleman, Kayla Cheyanne Winebarger, Sheenah Amber Rogers, Joey Dean Webb, Diamond Snow Booher, Amber Leigh Phipps, Morgan Paige Perry, Eric Dale Whisman, Kedrick Lee Dingus, Christopher Michael Sullivan, Woodrow America Ritchie, Ashley Lynn Young, Patricia Ann Smoot, and Tabitha Nichole Satterfield.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Virginia State Police, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the Bristol (Virginia) Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies in Georgia and Tennessee investigated the case, including Tennessee’s Bristol Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, and 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force as well as the Georgia State Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corey Hall and Whit Pierce are prosecuting the case.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.  – A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment yesterday charging the former Acting Director of Lynchburg Community Corrections and Pretrial Services and one of the men she was supervising with conspiring to illegally access protected information in order to aid further criminal activity.

In an indictment returned yesterday, Jennifer Leigh Peters, 42, of Madison Heights, Virginia is charged with conspiracy against the United States, accessing a protected computer without authorization, obstruction of a proceeding before a United States Agency, destruction of evidence, and making false representations to an agency of the United States.

Also charged is Brendon Cole Webber, 27, of Lynchburg, Virginia. Webber is charged with two counts of conspiracy against the United States and four counts of accessing a protected computer without authorization.

According to court documents, Peters was employed by the Lynchburg Community Corrections and Pretrial Services (LCCPS) since 2007. LCCPS supervised probation for pretrial criminal defendants and certain post-conviction defendants charged in Lynchburg General District Court. In 2023, Peters assumed the role of Acting Director of LCCPS, the most senior role in the office.

Beginning in 2022, Webber was on probation and, at times, was directly supervised by Peters. Sometime in 2023, while on probation and supersized by LCCPS, Peters and Webber began a romantic relationship. Peters did not report the relationship to her employer.

According to the indictment, around November 2023, Webber used Peter’s access to the Lynchburg Police Department’s Records Management System (RMS) to run searches and review non-public, law enforcement material related to himself and his associates. This information was gathered by Webber and distributed to others.

In addition, Peters made certain entries into Webber’s official probation case file indicating that Webber had completed certain probation milestones, and instructed a subordinate to sign a letter that was sent to the Lynchburg General District Court terminating Webber’s probation.

On November 29, 2023, members of the Lynchburg Fire Department responded to an overdose at the Lynchburg Grand Hotel. First responders observed a man -- later identified as Weber -- lying face down on a hotel room bathroom. Firefighters observed needles and a glass pipe in the room. When Lynchburg Police arrived, Webber fled the scene, running from officers before being apprehended outside of the hotel. Later in the evening, officers searched the hotel room and recovered a bag containing suspected methamphetamine and a loaded Glock 38 handgun. Webber was subsequently charged with a state firearm offense.

Following the hotel incident, Peters made several false statements to a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force seeking to apprehend Webber. Peters then assisted Webber in fleeing Lynchburg by driving him out of state.

When questioned about the incident, Peters made several false statements to law enforcement regarding her relationship to Webber and her knowledge of his whereabouts.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, with assistance from the Virginia State Police and the City of Lynchburg Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito Iaia is prosecuting the case.

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

ABINGDON, Va. – Seven more defendants who participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine tied to the murder of Big Stone Gap, Virginia Police Officer Michael Chandler, were sentenced this week in federal court.

Misty Lynn Ward, 36, of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, Anthony Holmes, 39, of Appalachia, Virginia, and Keri Leanna Corbin, 44, of Jonesville, Virginia were all sentenced yesterday. Holmes was sentenced to 130 months, Ward to 30 months, and Corbin to time served- 24 months and 19 days for their respective roles in the conspiracy.

Kacie Lynn Werner, 43, of Big Stone Gap, Amanda Blanton, 42, of Big Stone Gap, Lucille Vanover, 33, of Kingsport, Tennessee, and Tiny Westmoreland, 47, of Big Stone Gap, were sentenced earlier this week. Werner was sentenced to 36 months, Blanton to 36 months, Westmoreland was sentenced to 60 months, and Vanover was sentenced to time served, 24 months and 17 days.

Previously sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy were: Timothy Ray Jones - 235 months; Charles Ryan Bowman - 120 months; Elicia Amber Burns - 172 months; James Brian Mullins - 180 months; Justin Dwayne Skaggs - 132 months; Tyler Lee Westmoreland - 54 months, Hailee Dietz and Paul Jones, were each sentenced to 121 months; and James Ray Worley - 120 months.

A total of 19 defendants were charged for conspiring to distribute more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as heroin and fentanyl. According to court documents, beginning in August 2021 and continuing until their arrest, the 19 defendants participated in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine from Tennessee and other states into southwest Virginia, and then further distribute it throughout Wise County, Virginia.

Tragically, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on November 13, 2021, Officer Chandler responded to a welfare check call at 2505 Orr Street in Big Stone Gap, known locally as “the red house.” Upon arriving at the Orr Street address, Officer Chandler encountered a vehicle outside the residence and was immediately shot by Michael Donivan White. Officer Chandler died later that evening from his injuries. White was later located at a motel in Kingsport, Tennessee, and a subsequent search of the motel room revealed a Taurus, 9mm pistol. Further testing ultimately proved this firearm to be the same one that fired the shots that killed Officer Chandler.  Michael Donivan White was indicted on federal and state charges for killing Officer Chandler and has since pled guilty in both cases. White is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Abingdon on February 20-21, 2024.   

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanagh, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Virginia State Police, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Norton Virginia Police Department, the Kingsport Tennessee Police Department, the Big Stone Gap Police Department, the Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the East Tennessee Drug Task Force, and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the Virginia State Police, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, City of Norton Police Department, and Big Stone Gap Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lena L. Busscher and Danielle Stone are prosecuting the case.

ROANOKE, Va. – A Dublin, Virginia man, who continued to prescribe pain medication even after he was informed he lacked the necessary license to do so, pled guilty recently to federal charges.

Ehikioya Osemobor, 47, waived his right to be indicted and pled guilty last week to a one count Information charging him with using an expired Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Number.

According to court documents, the Virginia Board of Medicine issued Osemobor a license to practice medicine and surgery in error in 2009. At the time of his application for licensure, Osemobor had not yet met all the necessary requirements of the United States Medical Licensing Examination.

The error was discovered in 2019.

When the error was discovered, Osemobor was practicing medicine at River Valley Healthcare Associates in Dublin, Virginia. He was registered with the DEA as a practitioner with authority to dispense and distribute controlled substances. His DEA registration was issued on the premise that Osemobor had a valid license to practice medicine.

The Virginia Board of Medicine notified Osemobor of the error and required him to provide evidence that he had fulfilled the necessary requirements under the United States Medical Licensing Examination. In February 2020, Osemobor notified the Board of Medicine that he was voluntarily surrendering his license to practice medicine. A consent order to that effect was entered on April 6, 2020.

Osemobor continued to issue patients prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances under his DEA registration number between April 6, 2020, and April 15, 2020. Osemobor has admitted that he knew he was not permitted to write prescriptions after voluntarily surrendering his license.

U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division,  and  George Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metropolitan Washington Field Office made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and The Food and Drug Administration - Office of Inspector General, investigated the case, with assistance from the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Health Professions.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin B. Johnson and Keith Parella are prosecuting the case.

ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke woman who prepared and filed false tax returns for others, committed wire fraud, distributed fentanyl, and illegally sold firearms, was sentenced last week to 120 months in federal prison.

Alisha Warrick, 40, pled guilty in November 2023 to filing a false and fictitious claim against the United States, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, distribution of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to court documents, beginning in 2015 and continuing at least through 2019, Warrick prepared and filed tax returns for other individuals, and she deliberately included false and fraudulent information in the tax returns. As part of this scheme, Warrick would "boost" the tax returns she filed on behalf of other individuals by including false employment and wage information or false information about the named filer's dependents, or both. Warrick knew the information was false when she submitted the tax returns.

Warrick also filed tax returns for certain individuals without their knowledge, and used those individuals' names and personal identifying information to file the tax returns.

While on bond pending trial, Warrick arranged with a confidential informant to sell the informant heroin (which later testing showed to contain fentanyl), and two firearms, one of which was connected to a prior fatal shooting in the Roanoke area.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanagh and Kareem Carter, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office made the announcement today.

The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Jones and Kelly McGann prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A former prison officer at Coffeewood Correctional Center in Mitchells, Virginia, was sentenced recently to 40 years in federal prison on a series of federal charges related to child sexual exploitation and child pornography.

Davey Jonathan Sisk, 30, of Culpeper, Virginia, pled guilty in June to two counts of sexually exploiting and attempting to sexually exploit a child as well as one count of receiving child pornography.

According to court documents, Sisk used the social media application “Telegram” to engage another individual, Anna Layher, to create videos and photos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and then send to him. These videos and photos involved victims as young as three years old.  Anna Layher, who was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Virginia for her role in sexually exploiting these victims, also received a 40-year sentence in September 2024.

In addition, from 2021 through 2022, a 12-year-old minor living in Texas engaged in sexual intercourse with another minor child and then sold videos and images of these sexual encounters on the internet through various social media applications, including Snapchat. Sisk admitted to using the Snapchat username “JAKESMOOT2021” and to paying over $450 through Cash App to the 12-year-old minor in exchange for multiple sexually explicit images and videos.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations in Harrisonburg, VA and Washington, D.C. investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.

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

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Envigo RMS, LLC and Envigo Global Services, Inc., (together, “Envigo”) were sentenced today for conspiring to knowingly violate the Animal Welfare Act and Clean Water Act. Envigo pleaded guilty in June 2024 in relation to a dog breeding facility located in Cumberland County, Virginia, from which the Justice Department secured the surrender of over 4,000 beagles in 2022.

Today, the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia sentenced Envigo pursuant to a resolution between the Justice Department and Envigo, and it imposed a total criminal fine of $22 million and at least three years of probation. In addition, Envigo is required to expend at least $7 million in improvements to its facilities and personnel beyond the standards imposed by the Animal Welfare Act, and it must pay all costs associated with a compliance monitor, who will oversee Envigo’s compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and Clean Water Act, as well as enhanced animal welfare standards.

Finally, in June 2024, as part of the resolution, Envigo was required to pay approximately $1.1 million to the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force and approximately $1.9 million to the Humane Society of the United States, both for direct assistance provided to the investigation, and $3.5 million to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to benefit and restore the environment and ecosystems in Cumberland County, Virginia.

In all, Inotiv, Inc., Envigo’s parent company, is required to guarantee more than $35 million in payments. This resolution marks the largest ever fine in an Animal Welfare Act case.

According to court documents, Envigo RMS conspired to knowingly violate the Animal Welfare Act by failing to provide, among other things, adequate veterinary care, adequate staffing, and safe living conditions for dogs housed at the Cumberland County facility.

In addition, Envigo Global Services conspired to knowingly violate the Clean Water Act by failing to properly operate and maintain the wastewater treatment plant at the Cumberland County facility, which led to massive unlawful discharges of insufficiently treated wastewater into a local waterway and also impacted the health and well-being of the dogs at the facility.

First Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Lee, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the sentence today.

The Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Virginia State Police provided security assistance during a multi-day federal search in May 2022 of the dog breeding facility.

Senior Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan and Trial Attorney Sarah Brown of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Ramseyer, Corey Hall, and Carrie Macon for the Western District of Virginia and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Welch (an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office) are prosecuting the case.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A former prison officer at Coffeewood Correctional Center in Mitchells, Virginia, was sentenced this week to 40 years in federal prison on a series of federal charges related to child sexual exploitation and child pornography.

Davey Jonathan Sisk, 30, of Culpeper, Virginia, pled guilty in June to two counts of sexually exploiting and attempting to sexually exploit a child as well as one count of receiving child pornography.

According to court documents, Sisk used the social media application “Telegram” to engage another individual, Anna Layher, to create videos and photos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and then send to him. These videos and photos involved victims as young as three years old.  Anna Layher, who was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Virginia for her role in sexually exploiting these victims, also received a 40-year sentence in September 2024.

In addition, from 2021 through 2022, a 12-year-old minor living in Texas engaged in sexual intercourse with another minor child and then sold videos and images of these sexual encounters on the internet through various social media applications, including Snapchat. Sisk admitted to using the Snapchat username “JAKESMOOT2021” and to paying over $450 through Cash App to the 12-year-old minor in exchange for multiple sexually explicit images and videos.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations in Harrisonburg, VA and Washington, D.C. investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.

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

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys Lena Busscher and Ronald Huber will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.  AUSAs Busscher and Huber have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEO) for the Western District of Virginia, and in that capacity are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our Republic,” United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “The Department of Justice will always work to protect the integrity of the election process and to ensure that every citizen has the ability to vote without interference or discrimination. In addition, election officials, staff, and others working to ensure a free and fair election is carried out will be protected from unlawful threats of violence this and every election season.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying, and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).   

In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEOs Busscher and Huber will be on duty in the Western District while the polls are open.  AUSA Busscher can be reached at 276-739-2954. AUSA Huber can be reached at 434-296-3912.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at tips.fbi.gov.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate,” United States Attorney Kavanagh added. “It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A pair of individuals responsible for distributing the fatal dose of fentanyl that killed an 18-year-old high school student in 2023 have been criminally charged with the teen’s death.

In separate court proceedings, the United States Attorney’s Office charged two people for the January 2023 overdose death of Cayden David Foster, a resident of Centreville, Virginia.

On August 28, 2024, a grand jury sitting in Charlottesville, returned a one-count Indictment charging Bessy Jimenez Mejia, 26, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, with distribution of fentanyl resulting in the death of Foster. If convicted, Mejia faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

The following day, Liam Conaway, 22, of Harrisonburg, Virginia pled guilty to a one-count Information charging him with distribution of fentanyl.

Mejia was arrested this week and made her initial court appearance.

According to court documents, in January 2023, Foster was an 18-year-old high school student living in Northern Virginia. Foster contacted Conaway, who was then a student at James Madison University (JMU), to purchase pills. Conaway and Foster had previously consumed pills together during Conaway’s recent academic winter break from JMU.

On January 27, 2023, Foster sent Conaway $105 through Venmo to pay for the drugs. Conaway purchased approximately ten pills from his supplier, Jimenez, in Harrisonburg. The pills Conaway purchased from Jimenez were designed to appear as though they were 30 mg Percocet pills but were in fact counterfeit and contained fentanyl.

Two days later, a friend of Foster’s delivered three pills, sourced from Jimenez through Conaway in Harrisonburg to Foster in Northern Virginia.

On January 30, 2023, Foster consumed a portion of one of the pills purchased from Conaway. That night, Foster died from fentanyl poisoning. 

First responders arrived at Foster’s home the next morning and pronounced Foster dead on arrival.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division made the announcement today.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Fairfax County Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Sally J. Sullivan and Melanie A. Smith are prosecuting the case for the United States.

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

ABINGDON, Va. – Six defendants indicted in May 2024 for conspiring to defraud the United States, to commit program fraud, and to commit mail fraud in connection to a scheme involving the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits, pled guilty yesterday in federal court.

Josef Ludwig Brown, 43, of Tazewell, Virginia; Crystal Samantha Shaw, 39, of Raven, Virginia; Jonathan Scott Webb, 40, of Raven, Virginia; Christopher Kirk Webb, 39, of Raven, Virginia; and Stephanie Amber Barton, 30, of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, all pled guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with emergency benefits, while Haleigh McKenzie Wolfe, 30, of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, entered a guilty plea to defrauding the United States in connection with emergency benefits.

According to court documents, between March 2020 and September 2021, these co-defendants conspired with others to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment benefits via the Virginia Employment Commission website while they were incarcerated in jails throughout the Western District of Virginia. Due to their incarceration status, these defendants were ineligible for pandemic unemployment benefits. Brown, one of the lead defendants in this investigation, admitted he solicited other co-conspirators while he was incarcerated to obtain their personal identifying information to provide to Shaw, another lead defendant, for her use in filing fraudulent claims and recertifications for unemployment benefits. In total, among the 17 defendants charged in this conspiracy, the Virginia Employment Commission paid out over $340,000 in fraudulent pandemic relief benefits.

Earlier this year, Brian Edward Addair, Clinton Michael Altizer, Cara Camille Bailey, Jeramy Blake Farmer, Joseph Frederick Hass, Daniel Wayne Horton, Jessica Dawn Lester, and Terrance Brooks Vilacha pled guilty to related fraud charges.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Brian D. Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement.

As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. The PRAC’s 20-member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending.

Agencies that assisted with this investigation include the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Labor, and the Virginia Employment Commission.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone are prosecuting the case for the United States.

ABINGDON, Va. – A previously convicted felon who illegally possessed a firearm and possessed distribution quantities of methamphetamine pled guilty recently to a pair of federal charges.

Troy Alexander Stamper III, 34, of Ivanhoe, Virginia, pled guilty last week to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

According to court documents, on June 23, 2023 the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Fries, Virginia to locate a wanted subject. Upon arriving at the residence, a witness reported that the wanted subject, and Stamper, fled upon seeing sheriff’s deputies arriving. In addition, the witness further reported that Stamper was in possession of a pistol.

The wanted subject was found hiding underneath the residence and stated that Stamper had stashed a duffel bag and a pistol underneath the porch of the residence. Deputies located the duffel bag, which contained a loaded, semiautomatic 9 mm pistol, 87 grams of methamphetamine, .873 grams of fentanyl, and 4 oxycodone tablets.

Stamper was apprehended a short time later and admitted that the pistol and bag containing the drugs belonged to him.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee is prosecuting the case.

ABINGDON, Va. – An Annandale-based doctor, who conspired with others to distribute more than 7,000 oxycodone pills, 34,000 milliliters of hydrocodone-chlorpheniramine solution, and 107,000 milliliters of promethazine-codeine solution, pled guilty this week in federal court.

Rotimi Iluyomade, 68, of Alexandria, Virginia, waived his right to be indicted and pled guilty to a two-count Information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone, to obtain drugs by fraud and to maintain a place for the purpose of disturbing a controlled substance and one count of money laundering.

“Every doctor takes an oath to treat their patient and to do no harm, but when a doctor falls short of that oath, they must be held accountable,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “In this case, a doctor put many in harm’s way. I am grateful to those who worked to stop the supply of these addictive and dangerous substances from reaching our communities and holding accountable a doctor who profited from the addictions of others.”

“Healthcare providers have a vital responsibility when it comes to dispensing medications to meet the health needs of their patients,” mentioned DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget. “This plea demonstrates Iluyomade’s criminal indifference to the lives of others, and the families who loved them. His reckless and fraudulent practices placed profits over the fragile lives of others. Our team is dedicated to safeguarding the safety and well-being of all individuals across the nation. This commitment includes ensuring that licensed professionals adhere to the law and report any hazardous conduct.”

According to court documents, between 2023 and June 2024, Iluyomade and at least 8 other co-conspirators entered into an agreement to distribute more than 7,000 oxycodone pills and more than 34,000 milliliters of hydrocodone-chlorpheniramine solution to individuals in multiple states. In addition, the co-conspirators agreed to acquire and obtain promethazine-codeine solution by fraud and to maintain a medical clinic known as Crossover Medical Center in Annandale, Virginia, for the purpose of unlawfully distributing controlled substances.

The conspiracy began in 2022 when, after an almost 30-year career as an emergency medicine physician, Iluyomade leased office space at the Crossover Medical Center and opened a pain management and weight loss clinic. Shortly after opening his clinic, an individual came to the clinic requesting a specific medication, promethazine-codeine solution (also known as “lean” or “purple drank”) for what they claimed was a chronic cough. Iluyomade examined the individual and prescribed promethazine-codeine solution.

The individual returned to the clinic several times and told Iluyomade that they were not using the promethazine-codeine for themself but was selling it to others for profit. 

Beginning in 2023, multiple individuals visited Iluyomade’s clinic to obtain fraudulent prescriptions for promethazine-codeine solution, as well as fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone pills and hydrocodone-chlorpheniramine solution, also known as “Tussionex.”  On many occasions, the individuals provided Iluyomade with lists of multiple “patients” with fake identifying information or different variations of names and false addresses, and requested prescriptions be sent to pharmacies throughout the United States for the “patients” on the lists. Iluyomade issued the requested prescriptions without examining the “patients” and often co-prescribed non-controlled medications such as steroids and antibiotics to attempt to make the prescriptions for controlled substances look legitimate.

Iluyomade was paid $300 for each fraudulent prescription he wrote. He wrote the prescriptions knowing they had no legitimate medical purpose and solely for his own monetary gain.

At least 70 of the illegal controlled substance prescriptions were transmitted to and/or filled at pharmacies in the Western District of Virginia.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virginia State Police, the Salisbury, Maryland Police Department, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.  Valuable investigative assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.

ABINGDON, Va. – The former Executive Director of the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority (SRRA) pled guilty yesterday in federal court to bank fraud and embezzlement associated with her scheme to steal money intended for the Spearhead Trail System within the counties of Buchanan, Dickinson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazwell, Wise and the City of Norton.

Melissa Slemp, Rose, 56, of Coeburn, Virginia, waived her right to be indicted and pled guilty to a two-count Information charging her with one count of bank fraud and one count of embezzlement.

The SRRA was established in 2008 to oversee the development and management of the Spearhead Trail System. Spearhead Trails consists of three outdoor recreation tourism destinations within its complex. The SRRA receives approximately $1.1 million of general funds per year to operate, including federal funds.

Rose was hired on July 23, 2019, as the Sales and Finance Manager for SRRA. The SRRA Board of Directors promoted Rose to Executive Director in October 2021. As Executive Director, Rose was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the SRRA and the Spearhead Trail System. She resigned from her position on February 3, 2023, following an investigation concerning embezzlement of SRRA funds.

According to court documents, on January 23, 2023, the SRRA learned that Rose had used SRRA funds for her personal use. Specifically, Rose wrote $16,614 in checks drawn on the SRRA’s bank account that were purportedly signed by another SRRA board member. The checks were drawn on the SRRA First Bank and Trust Company account and were for the purchase of a residential property priced at $69,5000 with a $15,000 down payment. The property was for Rose’s personal use. In an attempt to hide her fraud, Rose logged her payments for the residential property into the SRRA’s QuickBooks account management system as purchases for “Tools” with “Land Lease for 5 Years on Mountainview Trail for Conex & SXS Storage” written in the description. She also prepared a fraudulent purchase order and a fraudulent lease for the property, again forging a signature of another SRRA employee.

U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Virginia State Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Financial Fraud Investigator.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, is prosecuting the case. 

ABINGDON, Va. – An Appalachia, Virginia man, who participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine tied to the murder of Big Stone Gap, Virginia Police Officer Michael Chandler, was sentenced today in federal court in the Western District of Virginia.

Christopher Bates, 31, was sentenced today to 78 months in federal prison. Bates is the eighth defendant to be sentenced for his role in the conspiracy.

Previously sentenced for their role in the conspiracy were: Timothy Ray Jones - 235 months; Charles Ryan Bowman 120 months; Elicia Amber Burns 172 months; James Brian Mullins 180 months; Justin Dwayne Skaggs 132 months; Tyler Lee Westmoreland 54 months; and James Ray Worley 120 months.

A total of 19 defendants have been charged for conspiring to distribute more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as heroin and fentanyl. According to court documents, beginning in August 2021 and continuing until their arrest, the 19 defendants participated in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine from Tennessee and other states into southwest Virginia, and then further distribute it throughout Wise County, Virginia.

Tragically, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on November 13, 2021, Officer Chandler responded to a welfare check call at 2505 Orr Street in Big Stone Gap. This address, known locally as “the red house,” was well-known to police and often the subject of calls for service for civil disturbances, warrant service, welfare checks, overdoses, complaints of assaults, and drug-related activities.

Upon arriving at the Orr Street address, Officer Chandler encountered a vehicle outside the residence and was immediately shot by Michael Donivan White. Officer Chandler died later that evening from his injuries. White was later located at a motel in Kingsport, Tennessee and a subsequent search of the motel room revealed a Taurus, 9mm pistol. Further testing ultimately proved this firearm to be the same one that fired the shots that killed Officer Chandler.  Michael Donivan White was indicted on federal charges for killing Officer Chandler and has since pled guilty.  White is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Abingdon on November 20, 2024.  

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanagh, and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The investigation of this case is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Virginia State Police, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Norton Virginia Police Department, the Kingsport Tennessee Police Department, the Big Stone Gap Police Department, the Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the East Tennessee Drug Task Force, and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the Virginia State Police, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, City of Norton Police Department, and Big Stone Gap Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher is prosecuting the case.

ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke, Virginia man, illegally in possession of stolen firearms he purchased with drugs, was sentenced last week to 10 years in federal prison.

Justin Lyn Cumbee, 40, pled guilty in June to one count of possession of stolen firearms.

According to court documents, Cumbee came into possession of three stolen firearms associated with a gun heist carried out days earlier at a Fairlawn, Virginia pawn shop.

Several men, including defendants Ronald Perry, Malcolm Stanton, Michael Hall, and Austin Hixon, have all been charged for their roles in the burglary. 

On November 1, 2022, Perry broke into the 1st Pawn, and stole approximately 15 firearms. Following the burglary, Perry, Stanton and Hall divided up the stolen firearms, which were all semiautomatic handguns. Some of the firearms found their way to Hixon, who traded three guns to Cumbee in exchange for drugs.

Perry, Stanton, Hall, and Hixon have all been charged and face trial dates in the coming months.  

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanagh, and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Pulaski County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the Radford Police Department, the Christiansburg Police Department, the Virginia State Police Search and Recovery Team, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly McGann and Lee Brett are prosecuting the case.

DANVILLE, Va.– A Martinsville, Virginia man, who illegally possessed a firearm due to his prior felony conviction, was sentenced recently to 57 months in federal prison.

Demetrius Perkins, 30, previously pled guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on July 7, 2023, Martinsville Police attempted to stop a silver GMC Acadia that matched the description of a vehicle previously reported to be involved in a hit and run. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Perkins, failed to stop, and drove away at a high rate of speed. Perkins eventually lost control of his vehicle, which crossed a median into the opposite lane of travel before crashing into a ditch.

Following the crash, Perkins exited the vehicle and ran into some nearby tall grass. Officers ran after Perkins and saw him remove a firearm from his waistband and toss it into the grass. Perkins surrendered, saying, “You see, you see. You got me.”

After taking Perkins into custody, an officer returned to the spot in the grass where he had seen Perkins drop the gun. The officer recovered a loaded 9mm, semi-automatic pistol lying on the ground in a holster. At the time he possessed the firearm, Perkins was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanagh, and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive and the Martinsville Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case.

ROANOKE, Va. – A pair of Danville, Virginia men who robbed the Sunrise convenience store in Danville in February 2023 were sentenced yesterday in federal court.

Calvin Franklin Hughes Jr., 38, and Arshay Treyvant Haley, 19, both previously pled guilty for their roles in the robbery.

Yesterday in U.S. District Court, Hughes was sentenced to 156 months in prison and Haley was sentenced to 92 months.

According to court records and evidence presented to the court, around 8:30 p.m. on February 15, 2023, Hughes and Haley entered the Danville Sunrise convenience store wearing masks. Hughes held the store clerk at gunpoint for close to a minute, while Haley walked behind the counter and brandished a large machete at the clerk.  Hughes took approximately $750 from the cash register and Haley grabbed several cigarette cartons from the shelf.  Before fleeing the store with Haley, Hughes fired his pistol into the ceiling above the clerk, causing the clerk to duck in fright.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Danville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman prosecuted the case for the United States.

Seattle – A 72-year-old Mercer Island, Washington man was convicted Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle of Attempted Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction and Abusive Sexual Contact in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Munir Walji was convicted following a four-day jury trial. Jurors deliberated about 5 hours before reaching the guilty verdicts. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin scheduled sentencing for December 11, 2024.

According to records in the case and testimony at trial, on November 10, 2021, Walji was seated in the aisle seat next to the 15-year-old victim on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Seattle. The victim’s mother was in the window seat. Initially the three engaged in small talk as they settled in for the flight. The mother and victim both closed their eyes to sleep.

As the flight neared arrival in Seattle the victim felt a hand on her leg, waking her. She moved away from Walji and tried to go back to sleep. But the touching became more aggressive with Walji rubbing her thigh, and then unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching inside the waistband of her pants and underwear. The victim said something at that point that caused Walji to stop, and she awakened her mother.

A flight attendant responded to the row when the mother pushed the call button. Eventually, flight attendants moved the mother and victim to a different row. Law enforcement was notified, and Walji was arrested upon arrival in Seattle.

In closing argument, Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon told jurors “Mr. Walji rubbed his DNA into the crotch of her pants and shoved his hand inside of her underwear.”

Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction is punishable up to 15 years in prison and Abusive Sexual Contact in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction is punishable by up to two years in prison. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Lin after considering sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Senior King County Deputy Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute sex crimes in federal court.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Lynchburg, Virginia man, who distributed large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine throughout the greater-Lynchburg area while possessing a firearm and had previously been convicted in state court of second degree murder, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.

Taurus McDaniel, 43, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In addition, McDaniel was convicted in 2007 of murder in the second degree in the Circuit Court for Sussex County.

Quentin Randolph, a co-defendant in the matter, was previously sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy.

According to court documents, between October 2022 and June 2023, McDaniel, Randolph, and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the greater Lynchburg metropolitan area. The Lynchburg, Virginia Police Department development several confidential informants (CIs) and made numerous controlled purchases of methamphetamine from McDaniel and Randolph from McDaniel’s residence at 100 Bright Star Court in Lynchburg.

On June 2, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at McDaniel’s residence and discovered 356 grams of cocaine, a loaded, Colt .38 caliber revolver, a digital scale, a loaded 9 mm pistol with a laser sight and an extended magazine, and 236 grams of methamphetamine.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanagh, Jared Forget, Special Agency in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division, James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Ryan M. Zuidema, Chief of the Lynchburg Police Department made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the City of Lynchburg Police Department investigated the case.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh prosecuted the case.

ABINGDON, Va. – Eight defendants indicted in May 2024 for conspiring to defraud the United States, commit program fraud, and commit mail fraud in connection to a scheme involving the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits entered guilty pleas recently.

Brian Edward Addair, Clinton Michael Altizer, Cara Camille Bailey, Jeramy Blake Farmer, Joseph Frederick Hass, Daniel Wayne Horton, Jessica Dawn Lester, and Terrance Brooks Vilacha entered guilty pleas to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with emergency benefits.

According to court documents, between March 2020 and September 2021, these defendants conspired  to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment benefits via the Virginia Employment Commission website while they were incarcerated in jails throughout the Western District of Virginia and, due to their incarceration status, were ineligible for pandemic unemployment benefits. In total, among the 17 defendants charged in this conspiracy, the Virginia Employment Commission paid out $341,205 in pandemic relief benefits to ineligible persons.

Addair, Altizer, Bailey, Farmer, Hass, Horton, Lester, and Vilacha are scheduled for sentencing on January 9, 2025, and face up to five years in federal prison. The remaining defendants are scheduled for guilty plea hearings or trial in fall 2024.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Brian D. Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement.

As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending.

Agencies that assisted with this investigation included the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Virginia Employment Commission.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Danielle Stone are prosecuting the case for the United States.

CHARLOTTESVILLE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging a pair of men with federal conspiracy and kidnapping charges stemming from a fatal shooting in Charlottesville’s Belmont neighborhood in January of 2023.

Ricardo Franco-Ordaz, 26, of Cedar Creek, Texas, and Jordan Joseph Perez, 20, of Lockhart, Texas, were arrested this week in Texas. Each are charged with one count of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, conspiracy to transport an alien resulting in death, transporting an alien resulting in death, and conspiracy to receive money in connection with a kidnapping.

According to court documents, in early January of 2023, Franco-Ordaz, Perez, and other co-conspirators planned the kidnapping of multiple victims for ransom. In furtherance of their kidnapping and extortion scheme, they transported victims from Texas to Virginia, where subsequently, an argument and shootout arose that resulted in the death of a member of the criminal organization.

As part of the scheme, Franco-Ordaz arranged to pick up two victims from an area near the United States-Mexico border and bring them to a house near Austin, Texas. Once there, Ordaz, and others, held both victims against their will and under armed guard, then called and messaged the victims’ family and friends demanding cash in exchange for their release.

Franco-Ordaz exchanged one of the victims in Texas for $5,000 cash, and on January 8, 2023, Perez and another co-conspirator transported another victim to Charlottesville, Virginia where they arranged to exchange that victim for $10,000 in cash. However, when the exchange was set to occur, it was revealed that the full $10,000 was not available. Subsequently, an argument and shootout arose that resulted in the death of one of the kidnappers.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations in Harrisonburg, Virginia is investigating the case with assistance from the Charlottesville Police Department, Albemarle County Police Department and HSI Austin, Texas.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie Smith and Sally J. Sullivan are prosecuting the case.

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

ABINGDON, Va. – Ten individuals who conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Southwest Virginia were arrested last week on federal charges.

Arrested last week are:

1. Matthew Ryan “Red” Addington, of Pound, Va.
2. Ashley Linden Beverly Jr., of Pound, Va.
3. Brandon Gene Boggs, of Pound, Va.
4. Eric Lee Coffey, of Norton, Va.
5. James Eugene Gamble, of Wise, Va.
6. Thomas Ray Houston Jr., of Blountville, Tenn.
7. Keith Edward Payne Jr., of Wise, Va.
8. Brittany Chantae Rose, of Pound, Va.
9. Cody Allan Rose, of Pound, Va.
10. Andora Lee Smith, of Pound, Va. and Mayking, Kentucky

According to court documents, between 2021 and 2024, law enforcement in Wise County, Virginia investigated the widespread distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl by the ten defendants and subsequently made various arrests after conducting interviews and executing controlled drug buys from multiple members of the conspiracy. The investigation revealed that members of the drug ring traveled to drug supply sources in both North Carolina and Kentucky to obtain multiple pounds of fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and methamphetamine and then brought the drugs back to southwest Virginia for further distribution. 

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Drug Task Force (consisting of the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Norton Police Department, Big Stone Gap Police Department, and Virginia State Police), the Clintwood Police Department, the Pennington Gap Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kentucky State Police, the Winchester (KY) Police Department, the Fleming-Neon (KY) Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.

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

ROANOKE, Va. – A South Carolina man, who burglarized a Patrick County, Virginia gun store in the pre-dawn hours of September 22, 2022, was sentenced recently to 100 months in federal prison.

Bradley Wayne McGraw, 43, of Gaffney, S.C., pled guilty earlier this year to one count of stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A second defendant, Justin Whitaker, of Mooresville, North Carolina, was sentenced earlier this month.

According to court documents, in September 2022, McCraw and Whitaker stole a truck, attached a chain from it to the back door of the Rabbit Ridge Guns Shop and Range, and yanked it open. Surveillance video captured them wearing masks and entering the store where they proceeded to steal more than a dozen firearms, including shotguns, rifles, and pistols.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriffs’ Offices in Cherokee County, South Carolina, Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Cleveland County, North Carolina also assisted with the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson is prosecuting the case.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville returned an indictment yesterday charging a Winchester, Virginia man with making online threats to kill, kidnap, or injure Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Barrack Obama.

According to court documents, Frank Lucio Carillo, 66, is charged with 14 counts—five counts of making threats against Vice President Kamala Harris, five counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure Vice President Harris, two counts of making threats against former President Obama and two counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure former President Obama.

According to court documents, Carillo used the social media platform GETTR to post thousands of messages using the name “joemadarats1.” GTTR is publicly accessible, and users can post articles, statements, and links to other websites, as well as comment on and reply to other users’ posts.

On July 27, 2024, FBI Phoenix received information concerning a threat made against an employee of the Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder’s Office that was made on GETTR by a user with the name “joemadarats1.”

FBI searched the “joemadarats1” user account and discovered approximately 4,359 posts, comments, and replies made by the user targeting various public officials including, but not limited to Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barrack Obama

In a February 2024 post, “joemadarats1” said he had his “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.”

Authorities used GETTR subscriber information and other investigative methods to determine that the “joemadarats1” username was used by Carillo at his residence in Winchester, Virginia.

On August 2, 2024, authorities at the FBI Richmond executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home and seized a 9 mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office made the announcement today.

The FBI in both Richmond, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.

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

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – United States Attorney Chris Kavanaugh released the following statement:

"Today, I am announcing my plans to resign from my position as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia effective at year’s end, following the commencement of my wife Jasmine Hyejung Yoon’s service as a United States District Court Judge this September.  During this brief period of overlap, any cases in which the United States is a party, including all criminal matters, will be assigned to the other judges within the Western District of Virginia in accordance with the Court’s standing order for assignment of cases. 

Serving as United States Attorney has been the highlight of my professional life.  I am grateful to President Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and Senators Warner and Kaine for the opportunity to serve as the chief federal law enforcement official for the Western District of Virginia, and to lead an Office full of public servants dedicated to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice."

As the United States Attorney since October 2021, Kavanaugh has supervised the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters in which the United States has an interest within the Western District of Virginia, which comprises 52 counties and 17 independent cities in Virginia.  

In addition to being United States Attorney, Kavanaugh also serves on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), chair of the AGAC’s National Security Subcommittee, co-chair of the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee, and as a member of the Corporate Crime Enforcement Policy Working Group.  Prior to becoming United States Attorney, Kavanaugh was Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General and served as an Assistant United States Attorney for 14 years in both Charlottesville, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man pled guilty last week to a handful of federal drug and gun charges after orchestrating the straw purchase of a firearm and selling pressed fentanyl pills and multiple firearms (including a ‘ghost gun’) to a confidential informant.

Julius Frederick Muse, III, 19, of Roanoke, Virginia, pled guilty last week to four counts of selling a firearm to another person knowing or having a reasonable cause to believe that person was a convicted felon, two counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of aiding and abetting a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer and one count of knowingly possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

As part of the plea agreement, the government and the defendant have agreed to recommend a sentencing range between 70 and 108 months. The final sentence will be determined by the Court at sentencing.

According to court documents, in December 2022, Muse provided cash to another person to purchase an AR-style pistol on his behalf and paid that individual with marijuana. In order to do so, the individual made a false statement on ATF Form 4473.

Later that month, Muse sold a confidential informant four pressed fentanyl pills and two firearms. Eight days later, Muse sold the same informant 27 more pressed fentanyl pills and a Polymer 80 privately-made firearm, also known as a ‘Ghost Gun,” which Muse claimed was “untraceable.”

Muse later sold the informant four more firearms, including another AR-pattern pistol. At the time of these sales, Muse knew or had a reason to believe the informant was a convicted felon who was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Federal agents searched Muse’s apartment in March of 2023 and discovered, among other items, a 9mm Hi-Point pistol with an obliterated serial number.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case and Homeland Security Investigations provided valuable support and assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee S. Brett is prosecuting the case for the United States.

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

ABINGDON, Va. – A Gate City, Virginia pharmacist who tampered with oxycodone and hydromorphone was sentenced last week to 24 months in federal prison.

Dillon West Breeding, 34, pled guilty in June 2024 to one count of tampering with consumer products.

“Ensuring the integrity of our prescription drugs is vital to maintaining the public’s confidence in our healthcare system,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When patients go to the pharmacy, they trust the medicines they receive are legitimate, and prosecutions like this one go a long way towards ensuring that trust. I am grateful to the FDA, Virginia Department of Health Professions, Virginia State Police, and the Gate City Police for bringing this important matter forward.”

“FDA-OCI remains committed to safeguarding the drug supply chain from individuals who endanger public health and safety by tampering with products,” said George Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metropolitan Washington Field Office. “When pharmacists betray their customers’ trust by tampering with narcotic medications, they not only risk causing needless suffering from ineffective substitutes but also put lives at risk by introducing potentially harmful substances into the drug supply chain. The foundational work of the Gate City Police Department and our valued partnership with the Virginia State Police were integral to our efforts in safeguarding public health and safety in this case.”

According to court documents, Breeding swapped oxycodone tablets with prednisone, a steroid used to treat inflammation, and replaced hydromorphone tablets with leflunomide, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Additionally, Breeding would dispense medication to patients and short them pills, keeping the additional pills for himself.

Because Breeding tampered with these products, a pharmacist could have filled and dispensed the wrong drug to a customer, placing them in danger of death or bodily injury.

The Food and Drug Administration - Office of Inspector General, the Virginia Department of Health Professions, along with the Gate City Police Department and the Virginia State Police, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Macon prosecuted the case for the United States.

ABINGDON, Va. – Todd Stewart Williams, the Vice Chairman of the Smyth County School Board, was arrested at his home today on federal criminal charges related to child exploitation.

According to court documents, Williams spent more than $10,000 between May 2022 and January 2024 to entice at least six juvenile victims into sending him nude images and sexually explicit videos of themselves and others.

“Sexual exploitation and abuse have grown exponentially through the use of the internet, especially its online gaming platforms,” said Christopher R. Kavanaugh, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. “The safety and well-being of children in our communities are top priorities of my Office, and we are committed to the joint efforts with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue these perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice.”

“This case is a reminder of the constant threat of child exploitation minors face online,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Richmond Field Office. “Whether an offender sexually abuses a child in person or online, the FBI and our partners will continue to seek justice for innocent victims by holding offenders accountable.”

Williams’s alleged criminal activity came to the attention of law enforcement in September 2022 when a 15-year-old teenager living in Oklahoma reported to the FBI that Williams, using the Snapchat username “todd_w3411” requested nude images and videos of him.

During an interview with law enforcement, the teen told investigators he met Williams in a Snapchat group intended for gay teenage males. Soon after they began chatting, Williams reached out to the teen and offered to make in-app purchases in an online video game in exchange for nude pictures of the teen.  

From May 1, 2022 through October 1, 2022, Williams sent the teen over $2,000 in exchange for nude images and videos.

Based on the information obtained from the FBI investigation in Oklahoma, the FBI in Richmond began an investigation into the Snapchat activities of Williams’ username, “todd_w3411.”

The FBI’s investigation uncovered multiple instances of Williams’s alleged exploitation of minors.  In one instance, Williams used Snapchat to communicate with a then 12-year-old minor and offered to purchase items for an online game before eventually offering to buy nude pictures and videos from the boy.

Between August 2022 and January 2024, Williams sent the young victim nearly $1,000 in exchange for nude images and videos.

In January 2023, Williams met another teen on Snapchat and paid the teen to take pictures and videos of him sexually abusing his younger stepbrother, who was 10 years old at the time. As directed by Williams, the teen would approach his stepbrother in their bedroom at night and force his stepbrother to watch pornography. The teen would masturbate and take pictures.

Because the teen reached the $600 monthly limit on Cash App transactions, Williams mailed him a debit card hidden inside a pair of shoes to ensure he was able to purchase his videos.

In a six-month period, Williams paid over $3,500 for nude images and videos of the teen and his stepbrother.  

In yet another interaction with a young teenage boy on Snapchat, Williams paid over $3,000 in exchange for nude images and videos of him and his teenage boyfriend.

If you or someone you know have information about this matter or feel you may have been a victim, please contact the FBI Richmond Division.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Pierce is prosecuting the case.

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

ROANOKE, Virginia – A Danville man, who robbed a gas station in December 2022 during which he fired a handgun, was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in prison on federal robbery and firearm charges.

Isaac Graham, 42, pleaded guilty earlier this year to Hobbs Act robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, in December 2022, Graham entered a Danville convenience store with a handgun, fired a round into the floor, and demanded money from the store clerk. Graham fled with approximately $1,400 but was arrested a short time later by the Danville Police Department.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Danville Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee S. Brett prosecuted the case for the United States.

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

ROANOKE, Va. – A Pulaski County, Virginia man, who is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions, will serve more than 11 years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms and approximately 1,200 grams of methamphetamine.

Lardadian Javon Banian, 32, of Fairlawn, Virginia, was sentenced last week to 138 months in federal prison. He pled guilty in May 2024 to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on November 23, 2022, members of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the parking lot of a business in Fairlawn following a 911 call and report of a domestic dispute. Upon their arrival, deputies observed Banian standing near the driver’s side of a van. He matched the physical description provided by the caller. When deputies approached Banian, he fled on foot, ignoring commands to stop. Banian was eventually taken into custody.

A search of Banian’s person revealed $3,500 in cash and two baggies containing approximately 35 grams of methamphetamine. Deputies subsequently obtained a search warrant for Banian’s van.

Inside the van, deputies discovered a 7.62 caliber AK-47-style rifle with a loaded magazine, multiple bags of methamphetamine totaling 1,200 grams, as well as digital scales and plastic baggies.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Pulaski Police Department, the Radford Police Department, and the Pulaski County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case for the United States.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A North Carolina man, who lied about his age to a 14-year-old-girl he met on Instagram before traveling to Virginia to have sex with her, was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in federal prison.  

Rayvon Birden, 29, of Raleigh, North Carolina, pled guilty in March to one count of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in sexually illicit conduct.

According to court documents, Birden contacted the 14-year-old victim through Instagram direct messaging and represented himself as a 16-year-old named “Nolan.”

Birden and the victim exchanged phone numbers and began communicating via text messages and Facetime regularly. Over the course of their conversations, Birden received nude images of the minor and suggested they meet up and expressed a wish to have sexual intercourse with the minor.

Birden then drove from his home in North Carolina to meet the victim at a hotel near her Virginia home where they had sexual intercourse on multiple occasions, at least one of which Birden filmed.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations - Harrisonburg, Virginia, in conjunction with the Albemarle County Police Department and the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan E. McKay is prosecuting the case.

HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Maryland man, who used the drug dependency of at least three adult women to compel them to engage in commercial sex work, pled guilty today to federal charges.

William O’Neil Murray III, 36, pled guilty today to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.

According to court documents, beginning in December 2021 and continuing through July 2022, Murray engaged in a multistate sex trafficking operation involving at least three adult female victims.  Murray recruited and coerced his victims into sex work using their drug dependency as his primary method of control.

Murray controlled his victims’ narcotics use, not allowing them to obtain drugs from anyone but himself, therefore taking complete control of each victim’s drug dependency. Murray would withhold drugs from his victims if they did not follow his directions or engage in commercial sex.  Many of the victims described becoming “dopesick” when Murray withheld drugs from them. Thus, Murray stood between them and the threat of withdrawal. Murray knew that  withholding drugs from the victims would have a coercive effect and incentivize them to obey him.

Murray managed every aspect of the commercial sex transactions. The defendant used various commercial sex websites, such as Skipthegames.com to set up dates with commercial sex customers, set the prices, booked the hotel rooms, and transported his victims to the dates. Murray received all the proceeds from the commercial sex acts.

Murray maintained strict control over his victims’ activities including requiring them to stay in communication with him while they completed their commercial sex “dates.” Victims were not allowed to go anywhere without Murray’s permission and were punished if they did so. 

The criminal behavior occurred in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Office and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force (I-81 HTTF) and the Virginia State Police are investigating the case.

The I-81 HTTF is a collaborative effort of law enforcement and community partners focused on identifying instances of human trafficking along the I-81 corridor in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland; prosecuting those responsible; and providing assistance to the victims impacted by these crimes.  The I-81 HTTF includes law enforcement from the counties of Frederick, Clarke, and Shenandoah as well as the cities and towns of Front Royal, Hagerstown, and Frederick, Maryland, and Lord Fairfax Community College.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie Smith, Sally Sullivan and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James with the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit of the Department of Justice are prosecuting the case for the United States.

Charlottesville, Va. – A Winchester, Virginia man, who made online threats against the Vice President and thousands of posts and replies in online forums targeting the President of the United States, FBI Director, and other public officials, was arrested today on federal charges.

Frank Lucio Carillo, 66, made his initial court appearance this morning in U.S. District Court in Roanoke, Virginia after being arrested last week at his home in Winchester. Carillo is charged in a federal criminal complaint with one count of making threats against the Vice President of the United States.

“Open political discourse is a cornerstone of our American experience. We can disagree. We can argue and we can debate. However, when those disagreements cross the line to threats of violence,  law enforcement must step in,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia said today.

“The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people. We take all threats of violence seriously, and we will investigate them to the fullest and hold those responsible accountable,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today.

According to court documents, on July 27, 2024, the Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder’s Office notified the FBI’s Phoenix Office of potential threats being made on the social media platform GETTR. The threats were being made by a user with the name “joemadarats1.”

FBI searched the “joemadarats1” user account and discovered approximately 4,359 posts and replies made by the user targeting various public officials including, but not limited to, President Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Vice President Harris was mentioned 19 times by “joemadarats1,” including numerous threats of violence.

In a February 2024 post, “joemadarats1” said he had his “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.”

Authorities used GETTR subscriber information and other investigative methods to match the  “joemadarats1” username with Carillo and to locate his physical location in Winchester, Virginia.

On August 2, 2024, authorities at the FBI Richmond executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home and seized a 9 mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

The FBI in both Richmond, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.

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