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17 February 2023
Federal Prosecutors File Hate Crime Charges Against Man Who Allegedly Shot and Wounded Two Victims Leaving SynagoguesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Federal prosecutors today charged a former Riverside resident with two counts of committing hate crimes for allegedly targeting and shooting two Jewish men as they departed religious services outside two Los Angeles synagogues over the past two days.
Jaime Tran, 28, is expected to make his first court appearance this afternoon after being arrested Thursday evening and charged this morning.
The complaint alleges that Tran targeted the two victims because they were Jewish or he believed them to be Jewish. Because the complaint contains allegations that Tran attempted to murder the two victims, the maximum statutory penalty for each of the two hate crimes is life without parole in federal prison.
“Over the past two days, our community experienced two horrific acts we believe were motivated by antisemitic ideology that caused him to target the Jewish community,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “It is important, especially in one of the most diverse areas in the world, that we celebrate our differences, and stand together to oppose acts of hate.”
“In addition to targeting innocent people with violent physical attacks, these crimes instill fear in the community. There is no place in Los Angeles and, indeed, the United States of America, for fear to control communities and to intimidate people of faith,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “Law enforcement will work together to prevent hate crimes, whether they be civil liberties violations or acts of terror. On behalf of the FBI, I wish a full recovery to the victims who were senselessly attacked for their faith, as well as peace to the Jewish community.”
“I am proud of the outstanding work by our investigators in the identification and apprehension of the individual responsible for these hate-inspired attacks,” said LAPD Chief Michel Moore. “Additionally, I applaud the actions of our officers to quickly bolster our visibility in the impacted communities that were terrorized.”
The complaint alleges that Tran committed two hate-motivated attacks this week. Both shooting incidents took place in the Pico-Robertson district of Los Angeles.
In the first incident, which took place on Wednesday at approximately 9:45 a.m., Tran allegedly shot a victim at close range as the victim was leaving religious services at a synagogue. This victim survived the shooting, but he suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back.
In the second incident on Thursday at approximately 8 a.m., Tran allegedly shot a second victim at close range soon after he left religious services at a different synagogue in the same neighborhood. This second victim survived, but he sustained a gunshot wound to his upper arm.
Both shootings occurred in the same predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Los Angeles and both victims were dressed in clothing that visibly identified their Jewish faith, including black jackets and head coverings.
The evidence uncovered during the investigation indicates that Tran located the Jewish neighborhood after searching a popular business-review app for a kosher market in the Pico-Robertson district. After locating the market, Tran allegedly drove to the area, where the first shooting occurred. According to the complaint, Tran returned to the area the following day when the second shooting occurred.
Investigators acted quickly to identify Tran’s vehicle, to collect witness statements, and to obtain background information on Tran that are outlined in the criminal complaint.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating this matter. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the Cathedral City Police Department and the Fountain Valley Police Department provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kathrynne Seiden and Maria Jhai of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Frances Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.
Federal Jury Convicts Two Green Bay Men of Trafficking Fentanyl disguised as PercocetRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that February 16, 2023, a federal jury in Green Bay convicted Don A.K. James, Jr. (age: 24) and Frederick L. Brewer (age: 34) of Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl, Possessing Fentanyl With Intent to Distribute, and Distributing Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846.
The evidence presented at trial showed that in January and February 2022, Brewer sold fentanyl pills to an informant working with the Brown County Drug Task Force. The potentially lethal pills had been illicitly manufactured to resemble Percocet. After DTF arrested Brewer, they learned that James—Brewer’s brother—had negotiated with an Arizona-based source to buy thousands of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl. James flew to Arizona in early January 2022 to buy at least 15,000 pills. While there, he sent a video to a large-scale buyer in the Green Bay area—the video showed that James had at least 19,000 pills to distribute.
The evidence also showed that James flew back to Wisconsin and boasted to the buyer that James now had 30,000 fentanyl pills and was ready to do business. Brewer conspired with and assisted James in the fentanyl-trafficking operation, including when James returned from Arizona with the “load” of pills. When James was arrested, he attempted to swallow a bag of 58 fentanyl pills. After a several-minute struggle, during which DTF investigators administered Narcan to protect James against a potential overdose, they forced James to spit out the still-intact bag. James feared that he had swallowed two pills and pleaded for additional medical help.
Investigators quickly summoned an ambulance, which transported James to the hospital for medical clearance. James later posted bail and was released, only to be re-arrested in June 2022 when he was found in possession of over 750 fentanyl pills with the intent to distribute.
“Across the country – including in the Eastern District of Wisconsin – fentanyl is cutting a deadly swath through families and communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “The fact that traffickers like those convicted by the jury in this case are willing to increase the risk of overdoses by disguising this deadly substance as something less lethal is particularly disturbing. We are committed to working with all of our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to hold drug traffickers accountable for their actions.”
“I am appreciative of the ongoing collaboration between the Brown County Drug Task Force and our federal partners, specifically the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Wisconsin, to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations who poison our community by the distribution of fentanyl. We remain committed to keeping our community safe and holding drug dealers accountable for their illegal activities.“ Brown County Sheriff Todd J. Delain
Both defendants will be sentenced by Judge William C. Griesbach in May 2023.
James faces at least ten years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. James has multiple prior convictions, including a felony cocaine conviction that resulted in probation.
Brewer faces up to 30 years in prison. He has been previously convicted of multiple drug felonies, including possessing cocaine with intent to deliver in 2006, resulting in probation that was later revoked; two counts of delivering cocaine, one count of delivering fentanyl, and one count of possessing cocaine with intent to deliver, all in 2018, resulting in a four-year prison term. After Brewer was released early from prison in 2020, he committed the new offenses, resulting in another revocation and prison term that he is currently serving.
This case was investigated by the Brown County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Funnell and Alex Duros.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer
Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov
414-297-1700
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Federal Jury Convicts Felon of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in West PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Ramoine White, 39, of Upper Darby, PA, was convicted at trial of a single count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
On February 11, 2021, officers stopped White during a narcotics surveillance operation in the area of 5100 Arch Street in Philadelphia. Philadelphia Police Officers retrieved a Smith and Wesson, M&P, .40 caliber handgun loaded with 14 live rounds from White’s waistband. The defendant, who did not have a permit to carry that firearm, was also prohibited from possessing it due to his prior felony convictions which include possession with intent to distribute narcotics, aggravated assault, and firearms violations.
“This trial conviction exemplifies the ongoing commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s office to keep weapons out of the hands of people who are not permitted to possess them,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “It is the partnerships and the hard work of our law enforcement partners that are critical in keeping our communities safe.”
“I want to congratulate our ICE ERO officers for their skill and dedication in tracking down this dangerous criminal,” said Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia Field Office Director Cammilla Wamsley. “The interagency cooperation and professionalism of the officers and prosecutors led to the arrest of another person who threatens the safety of the American public.”
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Enforcement and Removal Operations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney MaryTeresa Soltis.
District Man Sentenced to 82 Months for Offensively Touching 14-Year Old ChildRead the Press Release
Defendant Assaulted Girl in Laundry Room in an Apartment Building
WASHINGTON – Eric Darrell “Butch” Smith, 52, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 82 months in prison for sexually assaulting a girl in the laundry room of a Northwest apartment building in which they were both living, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Smith pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree child sexual abuse on December 8, 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Milton Lee, Jr., who took Smith’s guilty plea, sentenced Smith today. In addition to the prison time, Smith was ordered, once released from prison, to 10 years of supervised release, and to register as a sex offender for 10 years. Judge Lee ordered that today’s sentence run consecutive to any other sentence that Smith might serve.
At his earlier plea hearing, Smith admitted that, on the afternoon of July 16, 2022, he followed the victim into the laundry room on the floor they were both living at the time. He engaged her in conversation, told the victim how pretty she was and asked her for a hug. She complied, hoping that by doing so Smith would leave her alone. As Smith hugged the girl, he intentionally touched her buttocks with his hand. This act was captured by the security camera located inside the laundry room.
The victim immediately reported to her brother and her mother that the defendant had touched her inappropriately. The police were notified, arrived at the apartment building and arrested the defendant, who was still on the scene. He has been in custody since his arrest.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Lezlie Richardson; paralegal Garcia Clarke; former paralegal Brenda Williams; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor, who prosecuted the matter.
Department of Justice Announces Joint Efforts for the Inspection of Animals at the Dr. Juan A. Rivero ZooRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announces the coordination of efforts between the United States Department of Justice and the Puerto Rico Department of Environment and Natural Resources with respect to the health and welfare of the animals housed at the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo and the holding facility known as the Centro de Detención en Cambalache (collectively the “Zoo”).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and the Department of Justice’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division have arranged, with the assistance and collaboration of the Puerto Rico Department of Environment and Natural Resources, for an inspection and evaluation process with respect to the Zoo animals. The inspection and evaluation will be conducted by a team of veterinarians and specialists from The Wild Animal Sanctuary. The Wild Animal Sanctuary operates four wildlife sanctuaries in Colorado and Texas encompassing more than 33,000 acres.
The United States Department of Justice, together with our agency partners in the United States Fish & Wildlife Service and the United States Department of Agriculture, remain committed to working with the Puerto Rico Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other Commonwealth officials towards a comprehensive resolution with respect to the health and safety of the Zoo animals.
“We greatly appreciate the cooperation of Secretary Anais Rodríguez Vega and her efforts with respect to the health and welfare of the Zoo animals,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “Working expeditiously together with Secretary Rodríguez Vega and other Commonwealth officials towards our common goal of ensuring the safe and humane care for all Zoo animals is a top priority of the Justice Department.”
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Cuban Man Pleads Guilty to Access Device FraudRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A man of Cuban citizenship pled guilty to possession of fifteen or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices with the intent to defraud, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge David L. Denton of Homeland Security Investigations.
According to court documents, on March 20, 2019, Henry Herrera Garcia a/k/a Alex Rodriguez Perez, 31, was encountered by a Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy at a traffic stop on I-10 in Harrison County. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations also participated at the scene of the stop. Various items recovered from the vehicle included a credit card scanner, thumb drives, credit card skimmers, a computer, a hard drive, fraudulent credit cards, and gas pump skimming devices, as well as accessories used for downloading credit cards. Subsequent forensic evaluations recovered from the electronic devices hundreds of “TXT” files which contained compromised credit numbers with card holder information.
Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on May 19, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
Couple from Lafayette Sentenced for Possession of Illegal Drugs and FirearmRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of two defendants in federal court. United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Brian Broussard and Shalla Adams, both of Lafayette, for possession of illegal drugs and a firearm. Broussard and Adams were both charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Lafayette in June 2021.
Broussard, 34, was sentenced to 162 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, to include fentanyl. Shalla Adams, 35, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of an unregistered silencer.
These charges were the result of an investigation by agents into information they received about drug trafficking activities in the Lafayette area. With the assistance of local law enforcement, multiple search warrants were executed on May 12, 2021 on properties connected to Broussard and his co-defendant, Adams. Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and other local law enforcement agencies, executed search warrants on properties and vehicles connected to Broussard and Adams. During the search of the residences, agents discovered a Romarm AK-47 style semi-automatic rifle, a Glock 9mm pistol, a Taurus pistol, a silencer, fentanyl, and other drug paraphernalia associated with the distribution of narcotics. Broussard was stopped by law enforcement officers after leaving one of the residences being searched and was found to have a Glock pistol in his vehicle with a mechanical modification switch that allowed the firearm to be fully automatic. Broussard pleaded guilty on November 21, 2022.
During the search of Adams’ residence on that same day, agents located a Glock 9mm pistol with a fully loaded 31 round magazine and another fully loaded magazine which contained 11 rounds of ammunition. In addition, agents located a firearm silencer which they learned was not registered as required pursuant to the National Firearms Act. Adams pleaded guilty on November 10, 2022.
This case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Combined Anti-Drug Task Force and Lafayette Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
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Chillicothe, Illinois, Man Pleads Guilty to Setting Fire to Planned ParenthoodRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Chillicothe, Illinois, man, Tyler W. Massengill, 32, of the 1000 block of North Santa Fe Avenue, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty on February 16, 2023, to an information charging him with malicious use of fire and an explosive to damage, and attempt to damage, the Planned Parenthood Peoria Health Center (PHC) building in Peoria, Illinois.
In court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, Massengill admitted that he maliciously set fire to the PHC on January 15, 2023.
Since being arrested on January 24, 2023, Massengill has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals. His sentencing is scheduled for July 6, 2023, at the U.S. Courthouse in Peoria before U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid.
Massengill faces a mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment of at least five years and could receive up to 20 years in prison. The charges also carry up to three years of supervised release and a possible fine of up to $250,000.
Massengill’s arrest followed investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; the Peoria Police Department; and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Peoria Fire Department is also participating in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna and Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Twenty-Five Years in Prison for Attempted Carjacking and Trying to Have Witness KilledRead the Press Release
A man who attempted to carjack two cars in Cedar Rapids and later tried to have a witness to those crimes killed was sentenced on February 15, 2023, to twenty-five years in federal prison.
Christopher Daniel Taylor, age 40, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 6, 2022 guilty plea to attempted carjacking and attempted witness tampering.
Information from sentencing showed that on December 3, 2020, Taylor was wanted for parole violations. After parole officers located him driving a car in Cedar Rapids, he led them and other law enforcement officers on two high-speed chases, reaching speeds of 97 miles per hour. After abandoning the car he was initially driving, Taylor stole a truck containing a firearm from the garage of a residence in Marion. Officers tried to pull Taylor over, but he fled at high speeds, moving in the direction of Collins Road NE and into high traffic.
Taylor stopped the stolen truck near Lindale Mall on the wrong side of the road. Taylor ran up to an oncoming car and tried to pull open the driver’s side door. When the car reversed away from him, Taylor shot at the car, using the firearm from the stolen truck. Taylor then attempted to carjack a truck in the Lindale Mall parking lot, pointing the firearm at the driver, and threatening to shoot. The driver used his door to push Taylor off the truck. A police officer took Taylor into custody after chasing him on foot across Collins Road NE.
After Taylor was arrested, he was detained in the Linn County Correctional Center. Between April 12, 2021, and December 2021, he repeatedly asked someone to kill a witness to his attempted carjackings. He wanted his potential accomplice to give the witness a “hot shot,” meaning a lethal dose of contaminated drugs.
Taylor has prior convictions for extortion, burglary, sexual abuse, and assault causing injury.
Taylor was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. In sentencing Taylor, Judge Williams noted that on December 3, 2020, Taylor had gone on “a crime spree” and that Taylor’s criminal history showed “an unceasing pattern of violence.” Taylor was sentenced to 300 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Taylor is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Marion Police Department, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-0016.
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Career criminal sentenced to 20 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – An Ohio man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of felony charges for the third time.
Dallas Michael Acoff, age 34, was convicted in October 2022 of five federal drug distribution counts. These new convictions were in addition to Acoff’s prior convictions for wanton endangerment with a firearm and attempted murder in connection with a homicide in Wheeling in 2015.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey heard evidence of Acoff’s prior criminal history during yesterday’s sentencing hearing as well as the facts of his most recent convictions. According to court records, Acoff sold cocaine near Fulton Playground in August 2021. Then, in February 2022, Wheeling Police attempted a traffic stop on Acoff’s vehicle on Wheeling Island. Acoff fled, first by car and then on foot, before being apprehended with possession of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
After considering the evidence presented, Judge Bailey imposed a sentence of 240 months.
“The residents of Ohio County are safer now that a violent, career criminal is going away for the next two decades,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force and the Wheeling Police Department deserve praise for their excellent work in this matter.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Camp Hill Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ryan Coggins, age 37, of Camp Hill and Spring City, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 9, 2023 by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner to 17 ½ years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing and conspiring to distribute multiple pounds of methamphetamine.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the charges against Coggins were the result of several-years long investigation into methamphetamine trafficking throughout multiple counties in southcentral and eastern Pennsylvania. Coggins admitted to using his home in Camp Hill as the hub for his methamphetamine trafficking. At least 22 other individuals were indicted for conspiring with Coggins and actually distributing approximately 16 pounds of methamphetamine from June of 2017 until December 19, 2020 in Dauphin, Cumberland, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lancaster, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Philadelphia counties.
The following co-defendants have already been sentenced by Judge Conner as follows:
- Nicholas Eastman, 140 months’ imprisonment;
- Ryan Eastman, 120 months’ imprisonment, and
- Tyrone Smith, 235 month’s imprisonment.
The remaining co-defendants have either pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing or are awaiting trial in September 2023.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, as well as many law enforcement agencies in the counties where the distribution activities were occurring. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William A. Behe and Christian Haugsby prosecuted the case.
All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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California Man Convicted of Drug Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal jury on Wednesday convicted a California man on a drug trafficking charge, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James.
The jury returned its guilty verdict against Esteban Roberto Ortiz, 43, after three days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Blackburn. Ortiz was convicted on the sole count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana. The jury also returned a special verdict that the offense involved more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, for which Ortiz will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
“This conviction sends a message to those who traffic illegal drugs across state lines to distribute in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “I commend the exemplary work of our law enforcement partners in identifying, infiltrating, and dismantling this multi-jurisdiction drug trafficking operation.”
“Methamphetamine is a destructive poison that can cause terrible harm to the quality of life in any community,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James. The successful conviction of Esteban Roberto Ortiz should put on notice those who engage in trafficking meth. “Side by side with our local and federal law enforcement partners, DEA is holding meth dealers accountable. We are seizing their profits, shutting down their distribution networks, and putting dealers where they belong- behind bars.”
Evidence at trial proved that Ortiz conspired with others to transport approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 pounds of marijuana from California to Alabama. Ortiz coordinated couriers to travel to Alabama in a vehicle containing an after-market hidden compartment where the methamphetamine and marijuana were stored. Agents from DEA Oklahoma City and DEA Birmingham coordinated a controlled delivery of this car to Alabaster, Alabama, to meet Ortiz where he was taken into custody. Evidence at trial further showed that, ahead of the vehicle’s arrival, Ortiz was planning for the distribution of these drugs to a network of drug associates in Alabama.
The maximum penalty for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana is life in prison.
The DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Garnett and Ryan Rummage are prosecuting the case.
California Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Allegedly Shooting and Wounding Two Victims Leaving SynagoguesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today charges against a former Riverside resident with two counts of hate crimes for allegedly targeting and shooting two Jewish men as they departed religious services outside two Los Angeles synagogues over the past two days.
According to the complaint, Jaime Tran, 28, targeted the two victims because they were Jewish or he believed them to be Jewish. Because the complaint contains allegations that Tran attempted to murder the two victims, the maximum statutory penalty for each of the two hate crimes is life without parole in federal prison. Tran made his first court appearance this afternoon after being arrested Thursday evening and charged this morning.
The complaint alleges that Tran committed the two hate-motivated attacks this week. Both shooting incidents took place in the Pico-Robertson district of Los Angeles.
In the first incident, which took place on Wednesday at approximately 9:45 a.m., Tran allegedly shot a victim at close range as the victim was leaving religious services at a synagogue. This victim survived the shooting, but he suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back.
In the second incident on Thursday at approximately 8 a.m., Tran allegedly shot a second victim at close range soon after he left religious services at a different synagogue in the same neighborhood. This second victim survived, but he sustained a gunshot wound to his upper arm.
Both shootings occurred in the same predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Los Angeles and both victims were dressed in clothing that visibly identified their Jewish faith, including black jackets and head coverings.
The evidence uncovered during the investigation indicates that Tran located the Jewish neighborhood after searching a popular business-review app for a kosher market in the Pico-Robertson district. After locating the market, Tran allegedly drove to the area, where the first shooting occurred. According to the complaint, Tran returned to the area the following day when the second shooting occurred.
Investigators acted quickly to identify Tran’s vehicle, to collect witness statements, and to obtain background information on Tran that is outlined in the criminal complaint.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division and Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office and the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating the case. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the Cathedral City Police Department and the Fountain Valley Police Department provided substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathrynne Seiden and Maria Jhai of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Frances Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section for the Central District of California and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting this case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Brandon Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Brandon woman pled guilty to theft of unemployment insurance benefits related to the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, and Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Aubrey D. Martinez, 36, assisted another individual, who was not entitled to receive unemployment insurance benefits, in applying for benefits with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. The unemployment insurance benefits were federally subsidized through the CARES Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force (NUIFTF). In response to the unprecedented scope of Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud, the Department of Justice established the NUIFTF. The NUIFTF is a prosecutor-led multi-agency task force with representatives from FBI, DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, HSI, DHS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, SSA-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and other agencies. Members of the NUIFTF are working with state workforce agencies, financial institutions, and other law enforcement partners across the country to fight UI fraud, and consumers should be vigilant in light of these threats and take the appropriate steps to safeguard themselves.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization that expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Boston Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston on narcotics and firearm charges arising from a traffic stop in Dorchester.
Rahiym Mervin, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2022, Mervin pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
On the evening of Dec. 15, 2021, Mervin was observed speeding on Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester and was subsequently pulled over by local police. A search of Mervin’s rented vehicle resulted in the recovery of a handgun, two high-capacity firearm magazines, 380 grams of cocaine, 96 grams of a fentanyl analog – an extremely potent opioid, substantially more powerful than heroin – and 135 grams of a mixture of methamphetamine, cocaine and caffeine. Most of the narcotics and one of the firearms were concealed in a hide within the vehicle dashboard. Mervin was arrested on scene and has been in custody since.
“A lethal dose of fentanyl is just two milligrams. Every gram of pure fentanyl has 500 lethal doses. A tiny amount of this deadly substance can kill, whether it is pure or mixed with other illegal substances,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Mr. Mervin was selling thousands of lethal doses of this poison. That he was out on bail for state criminal drug and gun charges adds insult to injury. Now he will be removed from our community so he can no longer cause harm.”
“Working side by side with the Boston Police Department to get repeat offenders off the streets helps to ensure the safety of everyone in our community; ATF continues our focus on keeping guns out of the hands of those who cannot legally possess them”, said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division.
At the time of his arrest, Mervin was on bail on gun and narcotics charges pending in Norfolk County arising from an incident in Quincy in May 2019. In addition, Mervin was previously convicted in June 2016 in Plymouth County of possessing a firearm without a license, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Rollins; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and ATF SAC Ferguson made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. McNeil of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Booneville Man Sentenced in Drug Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – A Booneville man was sentenced today to nine years in prison for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Willie Nichols, 39, of Booneville, Mississippi, pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Nichols was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Glen Davidson to 110 months for the conspiracy. He was further sentenced to 3 years of supervised release following his release from prison. Nichols is currently in custody.
Nichols was involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting large quantities of methamphetamine from Texas and distributing it throughout the Northern District of Mississippi. Nichols participated in the conspiracy by making multiple purchases of eight ounces of methamphetamine from the head of the drug trafficking organization for distribution throughout the Northern District of Mississippi. The investigation of this drug trafficking organization and its participants spanned over a year and is still ongoing. Nichols was indicted along with sixteen (16) other individuals.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program in partnership with state and local law enforcement. Agencies assisting with the investigation included the United States Marshal’s Service, the United States Postal Inspector’s Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Hampton and Feleica L. Wilson prosecuted the case
Bennington Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Matthew Culliver, 36, of Bennington, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for distributing marijuana and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Culliver to 24 months’ imprisonment on the distribution count and 60 months for the firearms offense, consecutive, for a total sentence of 84 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Culliver will begin a 4-year term of supervised release for each charge, to run concurrently.
On January 16, 2020, during a controlled buy at an Omaha gas station, a confidential informant, equipped with audio and visual recording equipment purchased 117 grams of marijuana and a Charter Arms .44 revolver from Culliver. This event was monitored by law enforcement. The marijuana was confirmed via laboratory analysis as to substance and weight.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Omaha Police Department.
Attempted Child Sex Trafficker Convicted by Federal JuryRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Keenon Green was convicted by a federal jury on Wednesday of Attempted Sex Trafficking of Children and Attempted Enticement of a Minor.
The jury trial began on Monday, and the jury received the case on Wednesday. The jury deliberated for an hour and fifteen minutes before announcing they had reached a verdict, finding Green guilty of both charges.
According to the evidence presented at trial, which included social media evidence, cell phone evidence, body-worn camera surveillance, and witness testimony, Green relentlessly sent direct messages to a social media user he knew as “Lexi” on Instagram, attempting to recruit her into prostitution despite responses from Lexi stating that she was in high school, that she was delayed responding to his messages because she was doing her biology homework, and then explicitly telling Green that she was 16 years old. Green continued to try to recruit Lexi to provide commercial sex services, advising her that he could provide protection on “the blade,” a dangerous destination for commercial sex activity that Green referred to as a “hoe stroll,” and that she would have to “only work the blade for a week max.” After that, Green’s messages indicated that he would provide her with false identification, post her advertisements on commercial sex websites, and then she could “charge 350 a hour and only be in there 30 mins max.” Because he believed her to be only 16 years old, he also offered to teach her how to drive. In exchange for his protection as a pimp, Lexi would be expected to earn $500 a night as a prostitute, and $1000 a night if they were out of town.
Ultimately, after working to recruit online Lexi for almost a month, Green arranged to meet her in person and bring her to Orange County, where business was “hella good.” Green told Lexi to bring “provocative stuff” and “heels” for the trip. The evidence presented showed that Green planned to have Lexi engage in commercial sex dates until she earned $1,000 for him before returning her to San Diego on Monday to attend high school. Unfortunately for Green, “Lexi” was an undercover deputy with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. When Green arrived at the meeting point with feminine care items in his trunk, including hair products and Vagisil, he was greeted by law enforcement instead.
Post-arrest, Green acknowledged that he was “chasing money” and that as a pimp, he “ran” seven to nine other women. The evidence presented at trial reflected that Green’s recruitment and enticement efforts extended beyond “Lexi”; he reached out to other Instagram users simultaneously, describing what he could offer as a pimp and telling them their “anatomy is the most valuable thing on this earth” and he could help them “use it wisely.”
“Trafficking children for commercial sex is a scourge on our community,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “This case demonstrates that proactive law enforcement efforts can stop these crimes before they happen, as well as holding offenders accountable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with law enforcement partners to prevent trafficking and deliver justice for victims.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the San Diego Sheriff’s Department for their excellent work on this case.
“Human trafficking is a highly predatory crime and can be violent. Offenders prey upon youth and the most vulnerable in our community. The Sheriff's Department will continue to work with our local, state, federal and tribal partners to rescue and protect victims of this terrible crime."
“This conviction closes the door on this human trafficker responsible for wreaking havoc on the lives of young women,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge, HSI San Diego. “Unfortunately, we know there are still traffickers out there looking to exploit the most vulnerable among us. Cases like this one serve to strengthen our resolve to protect and defend the victims.”
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22-cr-187-CAB
Keenon Green Age: 35SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Attempted Sex Trafficking of Children – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1591(a)
Minimum Penalty: 10 years
Maximum penalty: Life Imprisonment and $250,000 fineAttempted Enticement of a Minor – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2422(b)
Minimum Penalty: 10 years
Maximum Penalty: Life Imprisonment and $250,000 fineAGENCIES
San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego Sheriff’s DepartmentThis case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section. Formed in 2019, the VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California Coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking, and Project Safe Childhood. The VCHT Section also provides federal prosecutors to the downtown San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, the North County Gang Task Force, and the East County Gang Task Force.
Asheboro Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. - An Asheboro man on probation pleaded guilty on February 16, 2023, to a felony firearm offense.
Montrese Antwan Snuggs, age 35, pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(g)(A) and 924(a)(2).
According to court-filed documents, Snuggs was on supervised probation after pleading guilty in 2021 to state charges for attempted trafficking heroin, possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, and felony possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin.
Sentencing is scheduled to take place on May 30, 2023, at 9:30 am in Greensboro Courtroom Number Three before the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles. At sentencing, Snuggs faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a period of supervised release of up to three years, and monetary penalties.
Sandra J. Hairston, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, made the announcement. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, and Asheboro Police Department investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ann Courtney.
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.
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Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAVON THOMAS, 29, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 26, 2020, Hartford Police stopped a car Thomas was operating for motor vehicle violations. A search of the car revealed a loaded 9mm handgun and approximately 18 grams of crack cocaine packaged for distribution. Thomas was arrested on state charges at that time.
Prior to July 2020, Thomas was convicted in Connecticut and Georgia state courts of robbery offenses. In December 2020, while he was released on bond in his state case, Thomas was arrested in Massachusetts for possessing with intent to distribute narcotics. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced for that offense.
Thomas has been detained since his federal arrest on June 9, 2021. On September 14, 2022, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Donovan through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.
PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Ardmore Resident Sentenced for Robbery and Firearm Related Offenses in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Tyler Cheyenne Ned, age 27, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 140 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of Robbery in Indian Country, one count of Attempted Robbery in Indian Country, and one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The evidence showed that on or about May 17, 2021, the defendant walked up to three people smoking on the front porch of a home. The defendant produced a handgun and demanded that they empty their pockets. Two of the three then turned over items to the defendant. Not satisfied, the defendant asked if that was all they had, fired the gun into the ground, and said that he could or would take them out. The defendant fled after someone opened the front door.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the offenses because the defendant in this case is a member of a federally-recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Ardmore, Oklahoma, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The case was the result of an investigation by the Ardmore Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the sentencing hearing. Ned was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal to await commitment to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Alabama Man Sentenced 17 years for Gun TraffickingRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – A Sheffield, Alabama man was sentenced on Thursday to more than 17 years in prison for burglarizing two gun stores, possessing stolen firearms, and transporting those firearms to Chicago and New Jersey.
According to court documents, Marquis Devon McCray, 34 years old, masterminded the February 17, 2019, burglary of Oxford Pawn Shop in which 35 firearms were stolen. McCray and his co-defendants then transported those guns to New Jersey where they were sold on the streets. Ten of those guns have been recovered by law enforcement in the Newark, New Jersey area after they were used in violent crimes. McCray also led a group in the August 1, 2019, burglary of TNT Pawn in Booneville, Mississippi. McCray and his co-defendants stole 49 firearms and transported those guns to Chicago. The group sold those guns on the streets in Chicago. A number of those guns have been involved in shootings in Chicago and recovered by Chicago Police.
During a sentencing hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced McCray to 210 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $58,158.73 for the value of the stolen firearms and damage to the property.
“This defendant callously helped contribute to violence and misery in communities that were already struggling with extreme levels of gun violence,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “He deserves every day of his sentence, and we are proud to stand with ATF and our state and local partners to stem the illegal flow of firearms.”
“Bringing our expertise and resources to target individuals and organizations that plague our communities with gun trafficking and violence is a top priority of ATF,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “ATF will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities and hold accountable those who threaten our safety.”
McCray’s co-defendant, Galvin Davis, was previously sentenced to 14 years for his role in the commission of one of the burglaries.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Oxford Resident Agency, Oxford Police Department, Booneville Police Department, Corinth Police Department, ATF Newark Resident Agency, and the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
16 February 2023
Woodbridge Man Pleads Guilty to Pandemic Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man pleaded guilty today to illegally obtaining pandemic unemployment benefits from the state of California.
According to court documents, from August 2020 to on or about September 28, 2020, Osman Kanu, 26, executed a scheme to defraud the California Employment Development Department (California EDD) by filing at least 15 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) applications using the personal identifying information (PII) of victims. On each of these applications, the defendant knowingly made false statements and false certifications to mislead California EDD. These included falsely submitting applications with the PII of real individuals without their permission or consent; falsely certifying the real individuals’ employment history and unemployment status; falsely certifying that the real individuals would receive the UI benefits; and falsely certifying the real individuals’ home addresses. Kanu committed this fraud from Virginia. He did not live in California during the scheme or qualify for California EDD benefits.
During a lawful traffic stop on Kanu’s vehicle, law enforcement discovered 15 visa debit cards with different names on each of them. After further investigation, federal law enforcement determined that the debit cards provided access to UI funds provided by California EDD and Kanu was arrested.
In total, California EDD funded $308,400 to the prepaid debit cards. The total intended loss was $628,708. In total, Kanu withdrew $178,000 from the prepaid debit cards between late August and September 2020.
The California EDD funds loaded on the prepaid debit cards were derived from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, and from funds made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator to provide grants to participating states, territories, and the District of Columbia to administer delivery of lost wages assistance. All these programs were intended to help workers suffering economic consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kanu is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Troy Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Michael E. Nachmanoff accepted the plea.
The Arlington County Police Department provided assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina A. Cuellar is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-32.
Woman Who Lied About Romance Scam Sentenced to 2 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E, Pitlyk on Thursday sentenced a woman from Ohio who lied to U.S. Postal Inspectors to conceal her involvement with romance scammers to two years in prison.
On April 29, 2020, U.S. Postal Inspectors found $50,000 that had fallen from an Express Mail package sent by Linda Matson, now 62, of Xenia, Ohio to a post office box being used in a romance fraud scheme. They later found a second package containing the same amount.
The inspectors reached out to Matson, who acknowledged that she had been scammed by someone claiming to be a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army. On May 10, 2020, three days after admitting she had been duped in that romance scam, Matson began inducing her relatives to send her money on behalf of her fictitious military officer. In an effort to conceal her continued involvement in the romance fraud scam and to expedite the return of the seized funds, on May 18, 2020 she sent multiple text messages to a postal inspector falsely claiming that she needed the money to buy posters and T-shirts to help find her missing 18-year-old niece. Matson also sent links to news articles and Facebook stories about a missing Ohio teenager to deceive the inspector into acting quickly.
Believing Matson’s statements to be true, between June 1, 2020 and August 3, 2020 relatives gave Matson $590,000 that was to be used to help the fictitious military officer obtain an imaginary portfolio containing cash and diamonds valued at $20,000,000. Instead of providing the funds to the United States Customs Service as she promised, Matson mailed the money to post office boxes controlled by the romance scammers.
Matson pleaded guilty in August to a charge of making false statements to a federal agent and admitted she intended to use the money for reasons she was concealing from the postal inspector. She also admitted lying to the inspector and the FBI.
In a related case, Bonmene Sibe and Ovuoke Frank Ofikoro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a mail fraud and wire fraud scheme that used the same false claims about military officers to deceive women into mailing $844,070 to post office boxes in St. Louis. Judge Pitlyk sentenced Sibe, 43, to five years and three months in prison in May and Ofikoro, 43, to four years and two months in prison in June. Both men were also ordered to repay their victims.
The U.S. Postal Inspection service and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
Westwood Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Running Surety Bond Scam that Caused $5.2 Million in Investor LossesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Westwood man pleaded today to federal criminal charges for defrauding victims out of more than $5 million by purporting to sell bonds for large-scale construction and other projects, and for evading the payment of over $1.2 million in taxes.
Tommy Lester Watts, 63, a.k.a. “Michael Nesbeth,” “Michael Kent,” and “Alex Mason,” pleaded guilty to one count of transactional money laundering and one count of tax evasion.
According to his plea agreement, from September 2016 to September 2019, Watts falsely claimed to be experienced in and able to provide surety bonds and other financial guarantees for large-scale projects. Watts told victims that he would assist them in obtaining financing for their projects via his various companies, including the Sherman Oaks-based Source One Surety LLC. Watts misrepresented that any such bonds or guarantees were underwritten by well-known companies and banks, and that they were backed by assets in the millions or billions of dollars.
But Watts and his companies were not licensed to sell such bonds in California. And his claims about his experience, his clients – which purportedly included governments – his underwriting, and his supporting assets were not true. To make his scheme appear legitimate, Watts hijacked the corporate filings of other companies and created fake employees and accounts for underwriters and banks.
Watts caused victims to send his companies approximately $5,238,344, the majority of which he spent on personal items such as classic and luxury cars, rent for high-end apartments, and the purchase of luxury retail goods.
He also laundered victim payments through accounts held in the names of corporations that were not registered and used fake taxpayer identification numbers – and then used those accounts to spend victim funds as his own. He hid this income from the IRS in tax years 2017 through 2019, in which he failed to file any tax returns. Watts admitted in his plea agreement that he received a total of $4,683,430 in income that he failed to report to the IRS for those three tax years.
Watts has agreed to forfeit to the United States nearly $60,000 seized from two bank accounts he controlled, a Mercedes-Benz car and a Subaru SUV. He also has agreed to pay to the IRS a total amount of $4,226,535 in restitution, which includes at least $1,863,035 for his tax liabilities.
United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong scheduled a September 8 sentencing hearing, at which time Watts will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for the transactional money laundering count and up to five years in federal prison for the tax evasion count.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the California Department of Insurance investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristen A. Williams of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
Westminster Woman Charged in Federal Indictment Alleging She Acted as ‘Money Mule’ Who Laundered Funds for CybercriminalsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County woman has been charged in a six-count federal grand jury indictment alleging she laundered money directly sent from fraud victims who were tricked into sending the funds to financial accounts she controlled rather than to the victims’ intended recipients, the Justice Department announced today.
Serena Lieu, 55, of Westminster, is charged with three counts of money laundering and three counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on Tuesday.
Lieu was arrested without incident on Wednesday morning. She pleaded not guilty to the charges at her arraignment on Wednesday afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana and an April 11 trial date was scheduled in this matter. She was released from custody on $50,000 bond.
According to court documents, in 2019, law enforcement learned that a Lieu-controlled bank account received a wire transfer of $103,350 from a business email compromise (BEC) victim in the Dallas area. BEC is a scam that targets companies and individuals who perform legitimate transfer-of-funds requests. Cybercriminals using social engineering or malware impersonate one of the people involved in those money transfers to make the victim send the money to a criminal-controlled bank account. Once the fraud is detected, it frequently is too late to get the money back since the funds have been quickly moved to other bank accounts or used to buy cryptocurrency.
During a May 2019 interview, FBI agents advised Lieu – who has opened 11 bank accounts at seven separate financial institutions since 2017 – that she was moving fraud proceeds in and out of her various bank accounts. FBI agents then gave her a “money mule” warning letter, which she signed. A money mule is someone who transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else.
Despite the warning, Lieu allegedly continued trafficking fraud proceeds. Between July 2019 and April 2021, Lieu allegedly received more than $1.8 million into various bank accounts. These funds came directly from fraud victims who were deceived into sending the funds to Lieu-controlled bank accounts, rather than to the victims’ intended recipients, court documents state. After receiving this money, Lieu allegedly quickly withdrew or transferred it to various individuals or entities, including by converting the funds into cryptocurrency.
The indictment specifically alleges that Lieu transferred more than $560,000 from bank accounts she controlled to accounts at different banks and to Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, from July 2020 to February 2021.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted on all counts, Lieu would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each money laundering count and up to 10 years in federal prison for each illegal monetary transactions count.
The FBI and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn S. Small of the Major Frauds Section and David C. Lachman of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Vicksburg Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Mark Totten, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, announced that on Tuesday Virgil Chandler Knowles III, 47, of Vicksburg, Michigan was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of children and distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker also ordered Knowles to spend 10 years on supervised release after his confinement.
“My office is committed to protecting our most vulnerable and holding predators accountable for sexually exploiting our children,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “As soon as an undercover officer identified Mr. Knowles in a secret pedophile chat group, law enforcement moved swiftly to arrest him. To anyone exploiting children the message is clear: We know how to find you and we will hold you accountable.”
“Predators who create child pornography victimize children twice – first by sexually assaulting them and again by sharing it with others on the Internet,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The message sent at sentencing should be clear: Protecting our children from predators is a top priority for the FBI and law enforcement agencies everywhere. We are committed to identifying those who exploit children and bringing them to justice.”
The investigation and prosecution of Mr. Knowles was made possible through Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a multi-agency, nationwide effort begun by the Department of Justice in 2006. The project facilitates information sharing and joint-agency investigations among local, state, and federal authorities in order to combat the sexual exploitation of children. In this case, a local Task Force Officer based near Washington D.C. was the first to identify Knowles as a likely producer of child pornography. The investigator was able to relay the information he uncovered in near real-time using Project Safe Childhood communication channels. This allowed members of the FBI who were stationed near Knowles to develop the investigation further and identify Knowles’s precise location. A prosecutor assigned to the Western District of Michigan’s PSC response team was able to work with the FBI and obtain local search and arrest warrants for Knowles within hours of receiving intelligence from agency partners.
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Utah Woman Sentenced for Possessing Nearly Five Pounds of Cocaine at Omaha Bus StationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Chaminque Porter, 35, of Utah, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 15, 2023, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Porter to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment. She was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release after her release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
On December 21, 2021, Porter and her boyfriend, Elias Ramirez Jr., were traveling from Utah to Minnesota by bus. The bus had a scheduled stop in Omaha. Drug Enforcement Administration agents regularly patrol the bus station. On that day, they noticed a suspicious suitcase in Porter and Ramirez’s possession. Porter and Ramirez denied ownership of the bag and denied knowing each other. Agents searched the “abandoned” suitcase and located two packages containing nearly five pounds of cocaine. Video footage confirmed Porter and Ramirez loaded their bags, including the suitcase containing the cocaine, at an earlier bus stop.
Ramirez pled guilty and was sentenced on January 20, 2023, to 60 months’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
United States to Repatriate Nearly $1 Million to Federal Republic of NigeriaRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it is sharing approximately $954,807 with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigeria) in accordance with an agreement between the governments to repatriate assets the United States forfeited that were traceable to the kleptocracy of former Governor of the State of Bayelsa in Nigeria, Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha.
“Today’s result would not have been possible without significant cooperation between the United States and its international partners in our common fight against corruption and the laundering of corruption proceeds,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Our repatriation of the forfeited funds is an illustration of the United States’ commitment – through its Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative – to making the victims of corruption whole.”
Alamieyeseigha, known as DSP, now deceased, served as the elected governor of the oil-producing Bayelsa State from 1999 until his impeachment in 2005. As alleged in the U.S. forfeiture complaints, DSP’s official salary for this entire period was approximately $81,000, and his declared income from all sources during the period was approximately $248,000. While he was governor, DSP accumulated property worth millions of dollars through corrupt and illegal activities, including property in Rockville, Maryland.
DSP acquired the Rockville property during his first term as governor of Bayelsa State with funds obtained through corruption, abuse of office, money laundering, and other violations of Nigerian and U.S. law. Title to the property was transferred to Solomon & Peters Ltd., a shell corporation controlled by DSP. The company, instead of DSP himself, pleaded guilty to money laundering in Nigeria in 2007.
In May 2013, U.S. District Court Judge Roger W. Titus of the District of Maryland granted a motion for a default judgment and issued a final decree of forfeiture following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Asset Identification and Removal Group in Baltimore. The order extinguished all prior title and authorized forfeiture of the private residence located in Rockville to the United States and the property was sold. In a related action in the District of Massachusetts, the Justice Department and HSI successfully forfeited approximately $400,000 from an investment account traceable to DSP.
Under the agreement announced today, the United States agrees to transfer 100% of the net forfeited assets to Nigeria to support improvements in health care centers across Bayelsa State in the form of rehabilitation, refurbishment, and equipping such centers as requested by the Bayelsa government. The agreement includes key measures to ensure transparency and accountability, including consultation with the governments of the United States and Bayelsa State, financial review by an independent auditor whose reports will be published periodically, and monitoring by an independent civil society organization with expertise in project management whose reports will also be published periodically. Specifically, the agreement requires consultation with the government of Bayelsa State and the United States in the recruitment and competitive selection of implementors and monitors, and their work plans and budgets. The agreement also precludes the expenditure of funds to benefit alleged perpetrators of the corruption. The agreement reflects the sound principles for ensuring transparency and accountability adopted at the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) in December 2017 in Washington, D.C., which the United States and United Kingdom hosted with support from the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative of the World Bank and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The department appreciates the extensive assistance provided by the Federal Government of Nigeria in this case. The department also thanks the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and HSI as well as the U.S. Department of State for its assistance in negotiating and facilitating the return in this matter.
This case was brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative by a team of dedicated prosecutors in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section working in partnership with the FBI. Through the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement agencies seek to safeguard the U.S. financial system from criminal money laundering and to recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption. Where appropriate and possible, the department endeavors to use recovered corruption proceeds to benefit the people harmed by acts of corruption and abuse of public trust.
Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should contact federal law enforcement or send an email to kleptocracy@usdoj.gov.
Two Wake County Men Plead Guilty to COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Albert Eugene Miller, Jr., 58, and Jonathan Fleming, 60, both pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Act (“PPP”) COVID-19 loans. They each face up to 20 years in prison.
“These two defendants, along with their network of co-conspirators, took taxpayer money meant to help struggling small businesses during a global pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are investigating and prosecuting those who steal from public programs intended to keep legitimate businesses afloat.”
According to each charged criminal information, both defendants conspired with Edward Whitaker, Schunda Coleman, and others to obtain fraudulent PPP loans on behalf of their respective businesses. Whitaker and Coleman pled guilty on January 19, 2023 for their role in operating a nation-wide scheme to help people across the country commit millions of dollars of PPP fraud.
According to charging documents and information summarized in court, Whitaker and Coleman created fraudulent supporting documents and applications for PPP loans which they provided to Miller and Fleming in exchange for 25% of the total loan proceeds. The fraudulent applications falsified the number of employees and gross wages being paid prior to the COVID pandemic, in order to help qualify for PPP loans. Following the disbursement of the PPP loans, Whitaker allegedly instructed Miller and Fleming as to how to make it appear that the PPP loans were being paid out to employees, when in reality the money was transferred back to Miller and Fleming, respectively. The fraudulent payroll records were then allegedly submitted to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain 100% loan forgiveness.
Late last year, Quentin Jackson pled guilty in the same conspiracy which included the recruitment of numerous individuals (such as Miller and Fleming) in the Eastern District of North Carolina to use Whitaker and Coleman to obtain fraudulent PPP funds.
“The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge in the Charlotte Field Office. “Through our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who try to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.”
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were economically suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the SBA.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after United States Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II accepted the pleas. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka is prosecuting the cases.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:22-cr-00290-D and 5:22-cr-00337.
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Two More Individuals Sentenced to 10 Months for Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accidents in Order to Defraud Insurance and Trucking CompaniesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOHN DIGGS (“J. DIGGS”), age 62, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, and JAMES WILLIAMS (“WILLIAMS”), age 68, of Gibson, Louisiana, were both sentenced February 14, 2023 to 10 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lance M. Africk after they pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.
According to court records, J. DIGGS and WILLIAMS conspired with passengers Lois Russell (“Russell”) and Tanya Givens (“Givens”) to stage an accident with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road. Damien Labeaud (“Labeaud”) and Roderick Hickman (“Hickman”), who have already pleaded guilty to staging other accidents, also participated in this accident. Hickman, while driving Russell’s car, intentionally struck the 18-wheeler and then fled the scene with Labeaud. Russell advised NOPD that she was the driver and she, along with Givens, J. DIGGS and WILLIAMS, made claims for personal injuries. In total, the victim trucking and insurance companies paid out $272,500.00 for these fraudulent claims.
In addition to prison, J. DIGGS and WILLIAMS were both sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and a restitution hearing was set for April 5, 2023. Judge Africk also imposed upon each a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Long, and Unit Chief Brian M. Klebba, all the Financial Crimes Unit.
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Two Members of Cape Cod Heroin Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Prison for Violent KidnappingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two members of a Cape Cod heroin trafficking ring have been sentenced to 10 years and nine years in prison for their roles in a violent kidnapping captured on video.
Albert Lee, also known as “Mook,” 32, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2022, Lee pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Cameron Cartier, 28, of Buzzards Bay, was sentenced on Feb. 14, 2023 by Judge Burroughs to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2022, Cartier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice by retaliating against a witness, victim or informant. Lee and Cartier were charged in a superseding indictment that included co-defendants Edwin Otero, Justin Joseph and Anthony Basilici in March 2020.
In 2018, law enforcement began investigating a Cape Cod drug trafficking organization led by Otero. The investigation revealed that Otero and other members of the crew distributed large quantities of heroin throughout Cape Cod, including in Hyannis, Mashpee, Centerville, Osterville and in Pawtucket, R.I. In April 2019, as part of the conspiracy, Otero lured a known victim from Massachusetts to Rhode Island, where Otero, Cartier, Lee, Joseph, and Basilici kidnapped and held him, stripped him naked, assaulted him and threatened to rape him. The purpose of this kidnapping and assault was to retaliate against the victim because the crew erroneously believed the victim was cooperating with law enforcement. Basilici filmed the kidnapping and assault on Otero’s cell phone. Otero’s phone was later recovered with the video on it.
On Jan. 18, 2023, Otero and Joseph each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime; kidnapping conspiracy; and witness retaliation conspiracy. Otero also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and witness intimidation. They are both scheduled to be sentenced on April 27, 2023.
On Jan. 26, 2023, after a week-long trial, Basilici was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession and discharge of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime; kidnapping conspiracy; witness intimidation; and witness retaliation conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 26, 2023.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Barnstable Police Chief Matthew K. Sonnabend; and Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Lauren Graber of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Two Defendants Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Central Alabama PrisonRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that two defendants received prison sentences for conspiring to bring methamphetamine into an Alabama prison. On February 1, 2023, a judge sentenced Lamar Graves, Jr., 42, from Attala, Alabama, to 168 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Previously, on January 27, 2023, Derrick Antwon Traylor, 44, a resident of Gadsden, Alabama, received a sentence of 262 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Before their sentencing hearings, Graves and Traylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
According to court records, sometime prior to 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) began to suspect that Graves, then an inmate at Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore, was involved in an effort to bring drugs into the facility. Further investigation revealed that Graves was using friends and family members, including Traylor, who were not incarcerated to assist him in smuggling drugs into the prison. Two other co-defendants have federal cases that are still pending.
“The presence of drugs in a prison creates an immediate threat to the safety of prisoners and corrections officers alike,” stated United States Attorney Stewart. “Corrections officers have challenging jobs. Those challenges increase exponentially when inmates are using methamphetamine and other dangerous controlled substances. I am grateful for the work of the DEA and the Alabama Department of Corrections in identifying this drug trafficking organization and putting a stop to its activities.”
“The presence of illegal drugs is a challenge faced by correctional systems across the country,” said Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm. “Criminals often go to significant lengths to bypass our security systems and seek to introduce drugs and other types of illegal contraband into our system. The ADOC is committed to enforcing our zero-tolerance policy on contraband and works very hard to eradicate it from our facilities, including referral for prosecution of those interdicted.”
“The successful prosecution and sentencing of members of this drug trafficking organization should put on notice those who engage in this type of illegal activity,” stated DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James. “DEA will continue to collaborate with our state and local counterparts to ensure that those who attempt to flood the prison system with illicit substances face federal charges and a lengthy prison sentence.”
As noted, this case was investigated by the DEA and the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division. Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Andreu is prosecuting the case.
Trotwood man sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine crimesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Rasean J. Piner, 35, of Trotwood, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 151 months in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute bulk amounts of narcotics.
Piner admitted in a May 2022 plea agreement to possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, in May 2021, Dayton police officers executed a search warrant at Piner’s residence on Patrick Street in Trotwood. They discovered drug paraphernalia and processing equipment in the kitchen and a firearm in the primary bedroom.
In total, officers seized more than 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, 842 grams of cocaine and approximately 42 grams of fentanyl.
Investigators also discovered more than $8,000 in cash, some of which was hidden in the bathroom wall.
Piner was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2021.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal and members of the FBI’s Southern Ohio Safe Streets Task Force announced the sentence imposed on Feb. 15 by U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.
This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Through the violent-crime reduction program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders.
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Tampa Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Jorge Gutierrez Echeverria (34, Tampa) to two years and six months in federal prison for wire fraud in connection with his fraudulent receipt of Covid-19 funds. The court also ordered Gutierrez Echeverria to forfeit $149,900, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Gutierrez Echeverria had pleaded guilty on August 11, 2022.
According to court documents, in July 2020, Gutierrez Echeverria falsely and fraudulently claimed in a federal application for Covid-19 funding that he was the sole proprietor of a business suffering an economic injury due to the Covid-19 pandemic when in fact Gutierrez Echeverria had no such business. He further claimed that he had no felony convictions when in fact he had two felony convictions. Gutierrez Echeverria submitted a fraudulent 2018 tax return, including a fraudulent Schedule C, in support of his application as purported proof that his claimed business was real. As a result of his false and fraudulent representations, Gutierrez Echeverria received a $149,900 loan to which he was not entitled. He spent the money on extravagant personal expenses.
“The Secret Service remains committed to holding individuals accountable that attempt to exploit taxpayer funded pandemic relief programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Engel of the United States Secret Service – Tampa Field Office. “The outcome of this case is the direct result of the coordination with our partners at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.
St. Paul Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and court documents, on May 28, 2019, Travis Malik Galtney, 38, possessed two semiautomatic pistols and an extended magazine. He also possessed a semiautomatic pistol, with an attached high-capacity magazine, at the time of his arrest on January 8, 2020. Because Galtney has previous felony convictions in Ramsey and Olmsted Counties, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition at any time.
Galtney pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Michael J. Davis to two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Paul Police Department and the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Bejar and Chelsea A. Walcker are prosecuting the case.
St. Charles County Man Who Hid Camera in Bathroom Sentenced to 16 ½ Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a St. Charles County, Missouri man who received and distributed child pornography via social media and placed a hidden camera in a bathroom to record nude minors to 16 and one-half years in federal prison.
Scott A. Falkner, 38, will also have to pay $21,000 to victims depicted in the child sexual exploitation material.
A search of the Walker's home on March 21, 2021 led to the discovery of 423 images and 91 videos containing child sexual abuse material on his cellphone, all but five of which Falkner had downloaded. Falkner admitted creating those five videos by secretly recording girls ranging in age from 10 to 17 in his bathroom.
The investigation was triggered when Falkner sent six files containing child pornography via Kik Messenger, leading to a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Falkner pleaded guilty in January to a felony charge of receiving child pornography.
“We are proud to have such strong law enforcement partnerships to be able to bring child predators like Scott Falkner to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Unfortunately, exploitation of children is so despicably prolific, the FBI relies on task forces where local law enforcement officers are deputized as special federal officers to help address such crimes.”
The case was investigated by the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force and Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children in partnership with the FBI St. Louis Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to CarjackingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on February 14, 2023, defendant WILLIAM NELSON, age 21, a resident of South Carolina, pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey to committing a carjacking in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 2, 2022.
In Count 1 of the indictment, NELSON is charged with a carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119. NELSON faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, a period of up to 3 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. NELSON’S sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2023.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.
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Seven Defendants Charged with Million-Dollar Identity Theft and Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (“TIGTA”), Francis J. Russo, the Director of the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), and Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI") New York, announced today the unsealing of a seven-count Complaint charging seven participants in an identity theft and fraud scheme, through which they are alleged to have stolen at least $1 million from victims’ bank accounts. Six of the seven defendants were arrested yesterday and today in Georgia, Florida, and Illinois. GILBERT HUERTAS, a/k/a “Bully,” and ANAYDA HUERTAS were presented in federal court yesterday in the Middle District of Florida. CHRISTOPHER PEEPLES, a/k/a “Jerry Chen,” a/k/a “Reginald Griffin,” a/k/a “Charles Richardson,” a/k/a “Robert Wolff,” and MALCOLM REASONOVER, a/k/a “Uncle,” were presented in federal court yesterday in the Northern District of Illinois, and DEMETRIUS TORRY, a/k/a “Meechie,” will be presented today in the Northern District of Illinois. KHALIL BEY-MUHAMMAD will be presented today in federal court in the Northern District of Georgia. GERALD LEE, a/k/a “Pimp,” remains at large.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “These defendants allegedly developed a sophisticated scheme to steal money from innocent victims’ bank accounts. The defendants allegedly stole victims’ identities, hijacked their bank accounts and cellphones, brazenly impersonated them at bank branches throughout the country, and drained their accounts. Thanks to our partners at USPIS, TIGTA, CBP, and HSI, the defendants’ alleged crimes have been brought to a halt.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said: “Peeples allegedly led a crew that perpetrated a complex, multi-state fraudulent scheme that involved identity theft and bank account takeovers. But today, Peeples and the alleged actions of his co-conspirators are leading them all straight to federal court. These alleged criminals are charged with draining their victims’ accounts of a fortune. In some cases, allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars at a time. As part of the charged scheme, Peeples and his crew allegedly stole the identities of unknowing third parties, to hide their crimes behind the good names of their victims. In total, they allegedly caused at least a $1 million loss, to first the individual victims, and then the banking industry. We hope all the fraudsters out there are listening: if you plan to commit identity theft and bank fraud, Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners will use every resource at our disposal to investigate you and bring you to justice – and we are very good at it.”
TIGTA Treasury Inspector General J. Russell George said: “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is committed to aggressively pursuing those individuals who use Internal Revenue Service systems to facilitate their fraudulent activity. Fraudulent schemes such as this undermine the integrity of tax administration. We would like to thank the United States Postal Inspection Service, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney’s Office for their continued partnership in the pursuit of justice.”
CBP Director Francis J. Russo said: “U.S. Customs and Border Protection is proud to have contributed to this ongoing investigation that resulted in the takedown of an elaborate conspiracy to defraud innocent victims. CBP will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to uncover and dismantle nefarious criminal networks that seek to defraud innocent victims for illicit gain.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: "As technology has advanced and become part of our everyday lives, fraudsters too have evolved with the times. Instances of internet based identity theft are on the rise and criminal organizations falsely operate under the impression that they are immune from prosecution. These arrests should send a clear message that HSI and our partners will continue to work tirelessly to identify these fraud crews no matter where they may be located and aggressively pursue justice for innocent victims.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint:[1]
Since in or about 2020, law enforcement has been investigating a fraud crew (the “Crew”) led by CHRISTOPHER PEEPLES and whose members also include KHALIL BEY-MUHAMMAD, GERALD LEE, MALCOLM REASONOVER, DEMETRIUS TORRY, GILBERT HUERTAS, and ANAYDA HUERTAS.
From at least 2020 up to and including at least 2022, CHRISTOPHER PEEPLES, and/or KHALIL BEY-MUHAMMAD, purchased or otherwise obtained, through the Internet, personally identifiable and financial information belonging to victims of their scheme. Such information would generally include victims’ names, dates of birth, home addresses, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank account information (sometimes including passwords), and phone numbers (the “Stolen Information”).
Once PEEPLES and/or BEY-MUHAMMAD obtained Stolen Information for a victim, they would provide that information to co-conspirators responsible for forging identification documents (the “ID Forgers”). Using the Stolen Information, the ID Forgers would manufacture a counterfeit driver’s license and sometimes a secondary form of false identification (each a “Fake ID”) in the victim’s identity. If the Fake ID was a form of photo identification, it would bear the photograph of one of the Crew’s members, typically LEE, REASONOVER, or ANAYDA HUERTAS.
In some cases, the Crew would take over the victim’s phone number through a “SIM swap” fraud — that is, by tricking the victim’s cellphone service provider to switch service for the victim’s cellphone number to a SIM card or cellphone controlled by the Crew. Members of the Crew would either impersonate the victim and claim that the victim’s existing cellphone had been lost or would enlist the assistance of corrupt cellphone store employees who would agree to process the SIM swap in exchange for payment. The purpose of the SIM swap was to take control of the victim’s cellphone number in order to gain access to the victim’s bank accounts — for example, to receive two-factor authentication or security text messages intended for the victim.
In some cases, the Crew would use the Stolen Information to log into victims’ online banking profiles, create new accounts in a victim’s name at the banks, and transfer funds from a victim’s existing accounts to the newly created accounts. The purpose of doing so was to divide the victims’ funds among as many bank accounts as possible and steal those funds through smaller withdrawals, which would be less likely to attract scrutiny from individual bank tellers processing single withdrawals in a single account.
Following the preparatory steps described above, the Crew would fly to a city in the United States to fraudulently withdraw funds from victims’ accounts over a period of days. During these trips, a Crew member (the “Runner”) would enter different bank locations impersonating a particular victim. The Runner would bring Fake IDs in the victim’s identity (and bearing a photograph of the Runner). At the teller window, the Runner would request a withdrawal, typically for less than $5,000 at a time to avoid triggering heightened bank scrutiny. In cases in which the Crew also obtained a “SIM-swapped” cellphone, that cellphone could also be used to intercept and impersonate the victim in response to the bank’s identification verification procedures. After a successful withdrawal, the Runner — and any Crew members participating in that trip — would drive to another bank branch location nearby to repeat the process until the victim’s bank accounts were substantially drained of funds. On a given trip, the Crew typically targeted multiple different victims’ accounts and typically stole tens of thousands of dollars or more.
The Crew has stolen at least approximately $1 million from bank accounts belonging to victims.
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PEEPLES, 33, of Chicago, Illinois, BEY-MUHAMMAD, 25, of Oswego, Illinois, LEE, 64, of New York, New York, REASONOVER, 56, of Chicago, Illinois, TORRY, 33, of Chicago, Illinois, GILBERT HUERTAS, 28, of Tampa, Florida, and ANAYDA HUERTAS, 51, of Tampa, Florida, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one or more counts of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS, TIGTA, CBP, and Special Agents and Analysts of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Williams also thanked the HSI New York Darkweb and Cryptocurrency Task Force for their assistance in this matter.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Matthew R. Shahabian, and Justin Horton are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Savage Life Boys Gang Members Found Guilty of Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A federal jury convicted Davenport men, Najawaun Marcus Quinn, 26, and Dimetri Alexander Smith, 30, yesterday following a 7-day jury trial for racketeering related charges. Quinn was convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Smith was convicted of two counts of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and two counts of Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2016 and 2017, as members of Savage Life Boys (SLB), a Davenport-based street gang, Quinn and Smith were involved in multiple shootings, including at a residence on the 5400 block of North Division Street in October 2016, at the NorthPark Mall in January 2017, and at Centennial Park in April 2017. These shootings were due to a feud with a rival gang and responses to perceived disrespect to the SLB gang.
Quinn and Smith were also involved in a February 2017 homicide at the Hotel Davenport for which Darion Gardner, 27, of Davenport, another SLB member, pleaded guilty to racketeering related charges and was sentenced to 450 months in prison.
Quinn and Smith committed these acts with the intent to maintain or increase position in the SLB gang.
Quinn and Smith will be sentenced at a later date.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal stated “We will continue to pursue and aggressively prosecute those individuals and groups of individuals that choose to commit violent crimes. This investigation, trial and hard work of our partners at the Davenport Police Department exemplifies our joint commitment to using every tool available to combat gun violence and protect the communities we serve.”
Davenport Police Chief Jeffery E. Bladel said “The tremendous work of our investigators and federal partners delivered justice for those impacted by these violent crimes. This case demonstrates the outstanding partnership and collaboration between federal prosecutors and local law enforcement that is vital to keeping our community safe. The Davenport Police Department is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of our community and bringing those who commit violent crimes to justice.”
Rushville Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine DealingRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jacqueline Anderson, 37, of Rushville, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to court documents, on May 6, 2021, Rush County Sheriff’s Deputies stopped Jacqueline Anderson after observing a traffic violation. As officers were running Anderson’s information through their database, a K9 officer indicated the presence of drugs in Anderson’s Chevy Blazer. Deputies asked Anderson to remove the keys that were around her neck. Attached to the keys were brass knuckles and a zipper pouch containing methamphetamine.
Deputies searched the vehicle and located numerous sealed bags of pure methamphetamine on the rear passenger floorboard. Deputies also located two scales in the vehicle. In all, Anderson possessed approximately 267 grams of pure methamphetamine and intended to distribute the drugs to others.
In 2017, Anderson was convicted of Arson, a serious violent felony, in Henry County, Indiana.
The sentence was announced by said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Indianapolis Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Rush County Sheriff Allan Rice.
“Methamphetamine dealers like this defendant fuel the scourge of substance abuse disorders and drug poisonings afflicting our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that law enforcement agencies will hold criminals accountable for pushing deadly drugs in our neighborhoods. We will continue to work with our excellent partners in the Rush County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA to make our communities safer.”
“The sentencing of Ms. Anderson was justified. Individuals who deal large quantities of debilitating drugs such as methamphetamine must be held accountable for their actions,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon. “DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state and local partners to keep our communities safe. DEA commends the outstanding work by the Rush County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Attorney’s Office during the course of this investigation.”
The DEA and Rush County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Anderson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following her release from federal prison, and be subject to a $500.00 fine.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Patrick G. Gibson, who prosecuted this case.
Rochester Man Indicted for Attempting to Fraudulently Obtain More Than $1 Million in CARES Act FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Heath Gauthier, 46, of Rochester, New Hampshire, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday and charged with multiple counts of wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
Gauthier was arrested this morning and has been temporally detained pending trial.
The indictment alleges that, between February 2020 and March 2021, Gauthier fraudulently applied for more than a dozen loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. Congress had authorized the PPP and EIDL relief programs to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the early stages of the COVID pandemic. PPP loans were issued by private lenders but fully guaranteed by the government, and EIDL funds were issued by the Small Business Administration.
According to the indictment, Gauthier applied for loans for non-existent companies and used the identities of deceased individuals in his applications, listing them in some applications as owners or employees of the fictitious companies. He also submitted false documents, including fabricated tax documents and counterfeit driver’s licenses, in support of the applications. In total the indictment alleges that Gauthier applied for more than $1 million in CARES Act loan funds.
The charges in the indictment are only allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s Trip to LondonRead the Press Release
Deputy Attorney General (Deputy AG) Lisa Monaco traveled to London this week to reaffirm and build upon the strong partnership between the United States and Great Britain in countering threats to our national security.
On Wednesday, the Deputy AG met with Permanent Home Secretary Matthew Rycroft to continue the strong working relationship between the Home Office and the Justice Department and to establish a new high-level forum to identify and address emerging threats. Senior representatives from both offices will convene the forum around key law enforcement areas to develop strategies that reflect the combined expertise, strengths and capabilities of U.S. and U.K. authorities.
That evening, Ambassador Jane Hartley hosted a reception in honor of the Deputy AG’s visit and to celebrate the collaboration between the U.S. and U.K. on the Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs Task Force. As the one-year anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine approaches, the Deputy AG delivered remarks reaffirming the commitment of the two nations to stand together with the people of Ukraine and to enforce the global sanctions levied against Russia.
On Thursday, at Chatham House, the Deputy AG joined two counterparts from her former role as Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor — former British Ambassador Sir Peter Westmacott and former British Deputy National Security Advisor Paddy McGuinness — to discuss how autocratic governments are acquiring and abusing disruptive technologies to project power and engage in illicit activity and how the U.S. and U.K. can collaborate to combat these trends.
In her remarks at Chatham House, the Deputy AG announced the launch of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a collaboration of U.S. law enforcement – led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce – bringing together top experts to attack tomorrow’s national security threats today. The Strike Force will employ intelligence and data analytics to target illicit actors, harden supply chains, and protect critical technological assets. “Our goal is simple but essential,” she said, “to strike back against adversaries trying to siphon off our most advanced technology.” Read her full remarks here.
While in London, the Deputy Attorney General also met with Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Collins and the Deputy Director of MI5 to thank them for their continued partnership on a host of national security issues facing the two countries – particularly the challenges posed by hostile nation states. She also visited the American Embassy for a briefing with U.S. officials on their work in-country and to thank them for their dedicated public service.
On Thursday evening, Deputy AG Monaco departed London for Munich, Germany, where she will participate in the Munich Security Conference and the Munich Cyber Security Conference.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco (right) with Former British Ambassador Sir Peter Westmacott (left) and Former British Deputy National Security Advisor Paddy McGuinness (center) Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco (center) with Former British Ambassador Sir Peter Westmacott (right) and Former British Deputy National Security Advisor Paddy McGuinness (left) Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco (right) with Permanent Home Secretary Matthew Rycroft (left) Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco (center) with U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Jane Hartley (left) and Permanent Home Secretary Matthew Rycroft (right)Queens Man Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Unlawfully Transporting AliensRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Eddie Galicia-Bravo, age 28, of Elmhurst, New York, pled guilty and was sentenced today to time served for unlawfully transporting two aliens.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.
Galicia-Bravo admitted that on September 25, 2022, he drove from New York City to the vicinity of Churubusco, New York, to pick up two Mexican citizens who had recently illegally crossed the international border from Canada into the United States. Galicia-Bravo also admitted that he planned to drive the two people to New York City.
The United States Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case.
Pottawattamie County Man Sentenced for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Cornelius Lavaughn David, age 35, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on February 15, 2023, to 30 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. After he is released from prison, David will serve three years of supervised release.
In January 2022, David possessed and sold a firearm that was reported stolen. Prior to possessing the firearm, David was convicted of a felony which prohibited him from possessing firearms.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Omaha Police Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice 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.
Pottawattamie County Man Sentenced for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Alan Scott Lawton, age 42, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on February 15, 2023, to 66 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. After he is released from prison, Lawton will serve three years of supervised release.
On June 8, 2022, a law enforcement observed Lawton putting items in a storage unit. Lawton fled in his Jeep and drove through a security fence, then took off on foot. After a short chase, he was apprehended. Along Lawton’s flight path, law enforcement located a loaded pistol that had been reported stolen.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice 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.
Plaquemines Parish Woman Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CALLEIGH AMOS, age 30, a resident of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, pled guilty on February 9, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, AMOS was involved in a narcotics distribution conspiracy with several other co-conspirators between June 8, 2020, and June 5, 2021. As part of the conspiracy, AMOS regularly distributed amounts of methamphetamine.
AMOS faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Child for SexRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 25 years’ incarceration and lifetime supervised release on his conviction for four counts related to the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Wayne Edward McNutt, age 58.
According to information presented to the court, from Feb. 25, 2021 until July 26, 2021, McNutt communicated with an individual whom he believed had a child available for sexual activity. In reality, McNutt was communicating with law enforcement agents acting in an undercover capacity to investigate the online sexual exploitation of children. During the communications, McNutt made plans to meet the purported child for sex and solicited advice from the child’s purported guardian about how to make the child trust him and feel comfortable during McNutt’s intended sexual abuse of the child. On two occasions, McNutt sent to the undercover agent images and a video depicting child sexual abuse. Ultimately, McNutt sent money for the purported child and the child’s guardian to travel from another state to Pittsburgh, where McNutt had booked a hotel room for all of them. McNutt was arrested by law enforcement on July 26, 2021, when he arrived to meet the purported child at the hotel that he had reserved. McNutt also possessed a cell phone that contained additional videos of minors, including prepubescent minors, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
At the time of his arrest, McNutt was on Pennsylvania state probation for a 2012 conviction for the aggravated indecent assault of a child. In imposing sentence, Judge Conti stated that lifetime supervised release was necessary to protect the community from McNutt’s very serious and repetitive criminal conduct.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI Pittsburgh Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the FBI Albany Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, and the FBI Albany Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force for conducting the investigation that led to the prosecution of McNutt.
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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Phoenix Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of 12-Year-Old from Spokane AreaRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – On February 16, 2023, United States District Court Judge Thomas O.
Rice sentenced Miguel Antonio Mondaca, 25, of Phoenix, Arizona, to 360 months in federal prison following a jury’s guilty verdicts on charges of Child Sex Trafficking, Online Enticement, and Child Pornography Production and Receipt. Describing Mondaca’s victimization of a 12- year-old girl in the Spokane area as “egregious,” Judge Rice also imposed a lifetime of federal supervision upon Mondaca’s release from custody, and awarded the victim $30,000 in restitution for therapy.According to court documents and proceedings, Mondaca, who lived in Phoenix, communicated in extremely graphic sexual ways with his minor victim, who was in the Spokane area. After learning her true name and the fact that she was a minor, Mondaca convinced his victim to disclose exactly where she lived, and created a detailed plan to kidnap her from her home in order to rape and traffic her. He explained to her exactly how child sex trafficking “works,” telling her that he would advertise her online to “customers” for sex and then take her to a “spot” and leave her there to be sexually assaulted.
In connection with his plans, Mondaca bought a plane ticket from Phoenix to Spokane, posted images of his itinerary online, and told his minor victim that he was coming to kidnap and rape her on the specific dates of his planned travel. When officers with the Washington State Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations learned that Mondaca had purchased the plane ticket to travel to Spokane, they sought a nationwide extraditable warrant for his arrest. Officers in
Spokane worked closely with their law enforcement colleagues in Phoenix to obtain and execute search warrants for Mondaca’s residence. In his digital devices, officers recovered the images and communications he had solicited from his primary victim. They also discovered a large collection of other child pornography images that Mondaca had downloaded from the Internet, including images depicting bestiality, the sexual abuse of toddlers, and other sexual violations of children.“As a parent, I am chilled by the manipulative and exploitative conduct for which Mr. Mondaca has now been convicted by a jury and sentenced by the Court,” said United States Attorney
Vanessa R. Waldref. “My office takes sexual exploitation extremely seriously, whether online or in-person. Children in the Eastern District and elsewhere deserve to live in a world free from sexual predators. Today’s significant sentence will protect our community, and send a message to those who seek to harm children: justice is coming.”U.S. Attorney Waldref also praised the collaborative efforts of state, local, and federal law enforcement. “This investigation was successful because of the incredibly diligent teamwork of
Washington State Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations, with assists from the Phoenix
Police Department and numerous other law enforcement agencies. I commend Assistant United
States Attorneys Alison Gregoire and Ann Wick, who tried the case to the jury with professionalism and sensitivity for the victim and her family. I also commend Assistant United
States Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator David Herzog, who presented the indictment to the grand jury and handled today’s sentencing on behalf of the United States.
Finally, I sincerely thank Jolene Jones and Petra Frandsen, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s victim witness specialists, for their tireless work on behalf of the victims of crime, in this case and so many others.”The case was investigated by Washington State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Phoenix Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Alison Gregoire, Ann Wick, and David Herzog represented the United States.
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Philadelphia Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Philadelphia, Mississippi man was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, beginning in August 2020, and continuing to October 19, 2020, Marice Keon Boler, 29, conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Neshoba County, Mississippi area. The Court determined that Boler was responsible for the distribution of nearly 9 pounds of methamphetamine.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Orlando Land,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Neshoba and Kemper County, Mississippi areas. “Orlando Land” 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.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Kemper County Sheriff’s Office, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department and Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.