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8 August 2022
Federal Jury Convicts Tahlequah Resident of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Aaron Richard Eubanks, age 32, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of five counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.
The jury trial began with testimony on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and concluded on Friday, August 5, 2022, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that between January of 2020 and February of 2021, Aaron Richard Eubanks engaged in sexual acts with a minor victim, who had not reached 10 years of age, on at least five occasions. Further, the United States presented evidence that in February of 2021, Aaron Richard Eubanks engaged in sexual acts with a second minor victim, who had not reached the age of 11 at the time of the abuse.
The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant in this case is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Adair and Cherokee Counties, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting in Oklahoma City, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Eubanks was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Caila M. Cleary and Anthony C. Marek represented the United States.
Federal Judge Sentences Three Men Convicted of Racially Motivated Hate Crimes in Connection with the Killing of Ahmaud Arbery in GeorgiaRead the Press Release
A federal judge in the Southern District of Georgia today sentenced Travis McMichael, 36, to life plus 10 years in prison; and his father Gregory McMichael, 66, to life plus seven years in prison; and William “Roddie” Bryan, 52, to 35 years in prison, for committing federal hate crimes and other offenses in connection with the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a young Black man, who was jogging on the public streets of a Brunswick neighborhood when he was chased down and shot to death in February 2020.
All three defendants were convicted at trial in February 2022 on multiple counts, including one count of using violence to intimidate and interfere with Arbery because of his race and because he was using a public street. All three defendants were also found guilty of attempting to kidnap Arbery by chasing after him in their trucks in an attempt to capture and confine him. Finally, Travis McMichael was found guilty of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a Remington shotgun in the course of the hate crime, which added 10 years to his life sentence; and Gregory McMichael was found guilty of using, carrying and brandishing a .357 Magnum revolver, which added seven years to his life sentence.
“The Justice Department’s prosecution of this case and the court’s sentences today make clear that hate crimes have no place in our country, and that the Department will be unrelenting in our efforts to hold accountable those who perpetrate them,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Protecting civil rights and combatting white supremacist violence was a founding purpose of the Justice Department, and one that we will continue to pursue with the urgency it demands.”
“It was important that this murder was prosecuted for what it was—a brutal and abhorrent racially-motivated hate crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Ahmaud Arbery should be alive today. The tragic murder of Mr. Arbery reminds us that hate-fueled violence targeting Black people remains a modern-day threat in our country, and we must use every tool available to hold perpetrators accountable. We hope that this sentencing ends one painful chapter for the family of Ahmaud Arbery, the Brunswick community and the nation as a whole.”
“Those who commit hate crimes target what makes us who we are as Americans, striking at the very heart of our society,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This is why combatting hate crimes and protecting civil rights are top priorities for the FBI. We will continue to fulfill our mission, working with our partners to investigate these acts of hatred and violence, and protecting the American people.”
“These substantial sentences should deliver a sense of finality and closure to an exceptionally tragic chapter in the Southern District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney David H. Estes for the Southern District of Georgia. “Even as the family and friends of Ahmaud Arbery continue to mourn his horrific and needless murder, we can find hope for our community’s future in the cooperative work of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors who brought these men to justice for their hateful crimes.”
Evidence at trial revealed that on Feb. 23, 2020, defendants Travis and Gregory McMichael armed themselves with firearms and chased after Arbery as he ran past their driveway. The pursuit passed by the home of defendant Roddie Bryan, who got into his own truck and joined the chase, despite the fact that he did not know and had never before seen Arbery. For the next four to five minutes, the three defendants pursued Arbery through the neighborhood, trying to box him in with their trucks. For that entire time, Arbery ran from the defendants, unarmed and with his hands in plain view. He never spoke a word to the defendants, and never made any threatening sound or gesture; rather, he repeatedly tried to run away. Ultimately, after Arbery had already changed direction multiple times, trying to escape from the defendants, Travis McMichael got out of his truck and pointed a shotgun directly at Arbery. When Arbery tried to defend himself, Travis McMichael shot him in the chest. Arbery, wounded, grabbed for the gun. During a struggle over the gun, Travis McMichael fired two more shots into Arbery, who then stumbled a few steps and fell face-first onto the pavement, where he died in the street.
Evidence at trial revealed that the defendants had strongly held racist beliefs that led them to make assumptions and decisions about Arbery that they would not have made if Arbery were white.
Travis McMichael’s social media comments and text messages to friends, offered as exhibits at trial, showed that Travis harbored racial animus against Black people, whom he described at points as “sub-human savages” who “ruin everything”; the social media comments also revealed that Travis had for many years associated Black people with criminality and had expressed a desire to see Black people — particularly those he viewed as criminals — harmed or killed.
Witnesses testified at trial about deeply racist comments Gregory McMichael had made to people he barely knew. One witness testified about a brief encounter she had with Gregory in a professional capacity, during which she commented that it was “too bad” that Julian Bond, a Black Georgia civil rights leader, had recently passed away; Gregory angrily responded that he wished Bond had “been put in the ground years ago” and that Bond and “those Blacks” were “nothing but trouble.” According to the witness, Gregory then went on a five-minute rant about Black people.
The jury also saw racist text messages from Roddie Bryan. When Bryan learned, just four days before the shooting, that his daughter was dating a Black man, Bryan referred to the boyfriend as a “ni----” and a “monkey.” In other messages on social media, Bryan also referred to other Black people using racial slurs. When the police spoke to Bryan about Arbery’s death, he admitted that he had never seen or heard anything about Arbery before; when he saw a Black man being chased, his “instinct” told him that the man must be a thief, or maybe had shot someone.
At trial, the jury found that the evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that race formed a but-for cause of the defendants’ actions on Feb. 23, 2020—meaning that, but-for Arbery being Black, the defendants would not have assumed he was a criminal, chased him down, and shot him.
All three defendants were previously convicted in a separate state trial on felony murder charges and other offenses. In state court, the McMichaels were both sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, and Bryan was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.
This case was investigated by both the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons of the Southern District of Georgia, and Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the Civil Rights Division.
Fairmont man sentenced for his role in a drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Nathaniel Lee Williams, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 60 months of incarceration for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Williams, also known as “Sticks,” 64, pleaded guilty in August 2021 to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or more of Methamphetamine.” Williams admitted to having 37.43 grams of methamphetamine, also known as “crystal” or “ice,” in August 2018 in Marion County. As a part of the plea agreement, Williams also admitted that he sold more than a half of a gram of fentanyl during three separate buys in July 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Three Rivers Drug Task Force and the Fairmont Police Department investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Find the related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/west-virginia-and-detroit-residents-indicted-drug-trafficking-operation
Everett Man Charged in Superseding Indictment for Additional Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Everett man has been charged in a superseding indictment in connection with two securities fraud schemes: one involving an alleged pump-and-dump and one involving the alleged misappropriation of tens of thousands of dollars of investor funds to pay his personal expenses.
Christopher R. Esposito, 55, was charged in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and sale of unregistered securities, one count of securities fraud and one count of sale of unregistered securities, concerning the alleged pump-and-dump scheme. In April 2022, Esposito was indicted on one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, in relation to the alleged misappropriation scheme.
According to the charging documents, Esposito and co-conspirator Anthony Jay Pignatello conspired between 2012 and 2015 to conceal their control over the Massachusetts-based microcap company Cannabiz Mobile, Inc. and to use backdated promissory notes to fraudulently obtain free-trading shares in the company. They then allegedly arranged for a promotional campaign in October 2015 to pump up Cannabiz Mobile’s stock so that they could sell – i.e., dump – their shares into the market and make money. In so doing, they allegedly sold and offered to sell Cannabiz Mobile stock in violation of the securities laws because the securities were not registered with the SEC and no exemption from SEC registration was available.
In addition, between August 2019 and February 2020, Esposito allegedly sold shares in a separate company, Code2Action, Inc., based on material misstatements and omissions and then misappropriated much of the proceeds. More specifically, Esposito is alleged to have, among other things, deliberately misled prospective investors about Code2Action’s plan and ability to complete a reverse merger, which Esposito touted would enable the investors to sell their shares at a profit, and spent over $57,000 of the investors’ funds to pay himself and his personal expenses.
The charges of conspiracy and sale of unregistered securities each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The charges of securities fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Eliot Maine Man Charged with Interstate StalkingRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Michael Chick, 39, of Eliot, Maine, was charged via complaint in federal court with interstate stalking, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
Chick was arrested without incident on Friday evening in Eliot, Maine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Chick was employed as a school bus driver and was assigned to bus routes servicing the Greenland Central School in Greenland, New Hampshire. Chick is alleged to have threatened a child attending the Greenland Central School and threatening the child’s family, and to have travelled from Maine to New Hampshire to make the threats.
Chick had an initial appearance hearing in federal district court this afternoon. The Court ordered him detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for August 18, 2022.
This matter was investigated by the Greenland Police Department, the Eliot, Maine Police Department, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kasey Weiland.
The charges contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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District of Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robberies for Role in Series of Crimes in Fall 2020Read the Press Release
Three Others Earlier Pleaded Guilty in the Investigation
WASHINGTON – Mekhi Truesdale, 19, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to two counts of armed robbery for his role in a series of armed robberies that took place during the fall of 2020 in Northwest Washington, admitting to two crimes in a 10-day period. He is the fourth defendant to plead guilty to charges involving multiple robberies.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, Christopher Stock, Acting Chief of the U.S. Park Police, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Truesdale pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a sentence of eight to 10 years in prison, consistent with the Court’s voluntary sentencing guidelines. The Honorable Michael O’Keefe scheduled sentencing for Oct. 7, 2022
According to plea documents, on Oct. 22, 2020, at approximately 9:45 p.m., a woman was walking in the area of Belt Road and Harrison Street NW when Truesdale and an accomplice approached her. Truesdale told the woman he had a gun and demanded her cellphone and phone passcode. He lifted his sweatshirt to reveal a black semi-automatic handgun. The woman handed over her cellphone, passcode, and wallet. About 45 minutes later, the cellphone was used to transfer $500 to Truesdale via a Venmo account. The next morning, an unsuccessful attempt was made to transfer more than $12,000 to various Venmo accounts held by Truesdale and others.
Another robbery took place on Nov. 1, 2020. At approximately 1:05 a.m., a man and woman were getting into a vehicle that was parked in the 1400 block of 22nd Street NW. Truesdale and an accomplice approached them and demanded their cellphones, phone passcodes, wallets, and keys. The accomplice pointed a silver revolver, and the man and woman turned over their cellphone, wallets, and keys. The woman also turned over her Apple AirPods. Truesdale and the accomplice then ordered the man and woman to get into the car, which they locked using the stolen car keys. They then fled. Less than 15 minutes later, $20 was transferred from one of the victims’ accounts and an attempt was made to transfer another $50.
Three others pleaded guilty on July 13, 2022, to charges in the investigation, and all are awaiting sentencing. They include:
- William Bell, 20, of Washington, D.C. Bell pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of attempted robbery for two hold-ups on Oct. 17, 2020, and Oct. 21, 2020. The first took place near the intersection of 22nd Street and Virginia Avenue NW, and the second in the area of the 1200 block of W Street NW.
- Dave Harding, 20 of Washington, D.C. Harding pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and one count of robbery, for two hold-ups, both on Oct. 31, 2020, including one at Fort Reno Park and another in the 3100 block of P Street NW.
- Jada Winder, 19, of Greenbelt, Maryland. She pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving stolen property involving the transfers from victims’ accounts.
Truesdale was arrested in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 5, 2020, following a foot chase in the Georgetown area. Bell was arrested Nov. 30, 2021, in San Luis Obispo, Calif., by the U.S. Marshals Service. Harding was arrested on April 8, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Winder was arrested in Greenbelt on Nov. 24, 2021.
This case was investigated by MPD, the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force, and the U.S. Park Police. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metro Transit Police Department and the Montgomery County, Md., Police Department.
In announcing the pleas, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Acting Chief Stock, and Chief Contee expressed appreciation for the work of those investigating the case from MPD, the FBI Washington Field Office, and USPP, as well as for the assistance of the Deputy U.S. Marshals involved in locating the defendants. They also acknowledged the efforts of those working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Debra McPherson and Alesha Matthews Yette.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Gold and Charles R. Jones who investigated and prosecuted the case, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter who investigated the case prior to indictment.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 66 Months for Smuggling AmmunitionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Luis Carlos Eriksen, 56, of Nogales, Arizona, was sentenced August 3, 2022, by United States District Judge James A. Soto to 66 months in prison for Smuggling Ammunition from the United States into Mexico and Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.
On May 20, 2020, Eriksen drove from Mexico to Phoenix, where he purchased 4,000 rounds of 7.62 x 39 ammunition, and 1,000 rounds of .38 Super ammunition from an ammunition retailer. After loading the ammunition into his vehicle, he began driving back to Mexico. He was stopped by an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) officer, who discovered the ammunition in his vehicle. Eriksen admitted that he had entered into an agreement with individuals in Mexico to obtain bulk ammunition in the United States and smuggle it into Mexico for payment. Eriksen has prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses and is prohibited from possessing ammunition.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and DPS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela W. Woolridge, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-0542-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-132_Eriksen# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Colombian Man Sentenced to One Hundred Sixty Eight Months Imprisonment for Trafficking 4,951 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Sean P. Costello, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, announced that Nester Javier Salazar-Montano was sentenced on August 4, 2022 to one hundred and sixty eight months imprisonment for trafficking cocaine. The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer. Salazar-Montano plead guilty to violating Title 46, United States Code, Section 70506(b), Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel in April 2022.
Documents filed with the guilty plea established that on December 13, 2021, while on routine patrol, in the Eastern Pacific, a marine patrol aircraft detected a low profile go-fast vessel in international waters near Malpelo, Colombia. US Coast Guard Cutter James diverted to intercept. The Coast Guard cutter launched an intercept vessel and helicopter, and ultimately boarded the vessel and discovered the 4,951 kilograms of cocaine on board the vessel.
Title 46 § 70506(b) makes it a federal crime for individuals to conspire to possesses with the intent to distribute drugs in international waters on, among other things, vessels that are determined to be vessels without nationality under the law. The law further states that these cases can be prosecuted in any federal court in the United States. Three other drug smugglers, Alonzo Escobar-Valenzuela, Fernando Preciado and Henry Hernadez-Garcia were with Salazar-Montano on the drug smuggling venture. They have all plead guilty and are awaiting sentencing before Judge Moorer.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello praised the outstanding work of the United States Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and his prosecutor involved in the case. Costello said, “The United States Coast Guard unfailingly lives up to its motto of “Semper Paratus” and does an outstanding job interdicting these drug smuggling vessels in international waters. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations then dedicates its resources and expertise to follow up and ensure these smugglers receive the full measure of justice. There is surely a drug cartel bemoaning the seizure of more than five tons of its cocaine, and the prosecution of four of its smugglers.”
This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Co-Owner of Multiple Companies Admits Failing to Pay over $1 Million in Payroll TaxesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A co-owner of multiple businesses today admitted to his role failing to pay over $1 million in payroll taxes for his companies, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Omar Mostafa, 57, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner to an information charging him with willful failure to collect or pay taxes.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2016 through 2018, Mostafa co-owned three companies that operated in New Jersey and New York and was responsible for signing and causing to be filed the companies’ tax returns with the IRS. During those tax years, Mostafa substantially underreported each company’s payroll, causing a total tax loss to the IRS of approximately $1.4 million.
The count of failing to collect, account for, and pay employment taxes is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy L. Tomlins, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
Charles Elsea, Jr., Leader of A Prison Gang, Sentenced to Life in Prison for Drug and Money Laundering OffensesRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On August 8, 2022, Charles Elsea, Jr., 44, a longtime inmate of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, was sentenced to life in prison by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.
Following a six-day jury trial in March 2022, Elsea was convicted by a jury of Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Actual Methamphetamine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(A); Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(C); Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i).
During sentencing, Judge Greer found that Elsea was responsible for distributing over 56.8 kilograms of methamphetamine. Elsea was ordered to forfeit $1,263,490.00, which represented the illegal proceeds from distributing methamphetamine and money laundering.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Elsea was serving a prison sentence for First Degree Murder for a 1996 homicide in Hamilton County, Tennessee when he rose through the ranks to become the State President of the Brotherhood Forever, a Tennessee based prison gang. Elsea led the drug trafficking organization from behind prison walls using smuggled cellphones to conduct his business on the outside. Elsea orchestrated multi-kilo methamphetamine deals that involved methamphetamine being transported from California and Arizona to Tennessee. Elsea and his coconspirators used the drug proceeds from the methamphetamine sales to create marijuana grow houses in and out of Tennessee. Elsea was also involved in starting two marijuana grow operations during the pendency of this case, utilizing the jail’s video system to speak to coconspirators about the cultivation of marijuana.
The case was the result of a five-year investigation that began in the spring of 2017 by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (“DHS-HSI”), the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”). Other agencies involved with the investigation included the Tennessee Department of Correction Office of Investigations and Conduct; the Elizabethton and Carter County Joint Drug Task Force; the Huron Undercover Narcotic Team with the Michigan State Police; the Arkansas Highway Patrol; the Missouri Western Interdiction Task Force with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department; and the California Visalia Police Department. This investigation was led by HSI Special Agent John Bulla.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan L. Gomez and J. Christian Lampe represented the United States at sentencing.
This investigation 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.
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Bronx, NY Woman Convicted in Marriage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – This past Friday, a federal jury convicted 43-year-old Barbara Oppong of Bronx, New York on charges of naturalization fraud, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and theft of government property.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that in February of 2019, a tipster alerted Fort Bragg U.S. Army CID (Criminal Investigation Division) that Samuel Agyapong, a U.S. citizen and soldier, was engaged in a sham marriage with Barbara Oppong, a citizen of Ghana who was unlawfully present in the United States. Agyapong agreed to engage in the sham marriage in exchange for and upfront $10,000.00 in cash and the benefit of additional Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) funds he would receive from the Army for having a dependent spouse. Oppong would obtain a lawful permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card. Agyapong and Oppong were married in New York in January 2015.
Thereafter, Agyapong and Oppong submitted fraudulent applications to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting Oppong’s adjustment of status as a lawful permanent resident in the United States, which she received. Based on the marriage to Agyapong, Oppong then filed an application for U.S. citizenship. Over the course of this sham marriage, roughly $110,000 of undeserved BAH was paid out by the U.S. Army.
Additional evidence presented at the trial showed that Oppong resided in New York, and Agyapong purchased a residence in Fayetteville, and they seldom, if ever, travelled to see each other nor had they engaged in an actual marital union. Further, evidence revealed that around the time Oppong and Agyapong were married and filed the applications, they omitted the fact that Oppong had two children with another man.
Agyapong was separately tried at a prior trial in which he was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison and restitution of more than $110,000. As a result of this past Friday’s conviction, Oppong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison at her own sentencing hearing scheduled for the November 15th term of court.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan accepted the verdict. The Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) in the Eastern District of North Carolina led by Homeland Security Investigations and assisted by the Diplomatic Security Service and U.S. Army CID investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz is prosecuting the case.
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 No. 5:19-CR-00423-FL-6
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Birmingham Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man was sentenced this week on the charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives, and Firearms Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
Christopher Jawan Weaver, 39, was sentenced on the charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Weaver was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala to 57 months of imprisonment followed by 24 months of supervised release.
In April 2021, Weaver was involved in a domestic altercation with a juvenile while armed with a firearm. During the altercation, Weaver struck the juvenile in the face with the firearm, causing a large laceration above the juvenile’s left eye. The juvenile was taken by ambulance to the hospital where the juvenile received stitches to close the wound. Weaver was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he has three prior Alabama state court felony convictions for Robbery, First Degree.
“Our law enforcement partners are keenly aware that domestic abusers and firearms are a deadly combination,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Those who commit a domestic violence offense while illegally armed with a firearm will draw the attention of federal law enforcement and the imposition of strict federal penalties.”
“ATF will continue to combat violent crime by holding individuals who unlawfully and knowingly possess firearms and use them to commit crimes of violence. Domestic violence is a growing problem across the country, and we will tirelessly fight to keep the citizens in our communities safe. Federal law prohibits individuals who have been convicted of domestic violence from legally possessing firearms” said ATF SAC Mickey French.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Lipscomb Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darius Greene and Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.
Bakersfield Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Louis Torres, 37, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to seven years and seven months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Torres is a member of the Loma Bakers criminal street gang and goes by the moniker, “Youngster.” On July 23, 2021, Torres was driving a vehicle in Bakersfield that was stopped by police officers for traffic violations. After exiting his vehicle, Torres fled on foot, but was pursued and apprehended by police. After Torres was arrested, police officers discovered that he possessed methamphetamine and heroin that he intended to distribute to others. At the time of his arrest, Torres was under active court supervision for a burglary conviction and had a suspended driver’s license. Torres has more than 20 adult criminal convictions and in the last 15 years has violated the terms of his parole and court supervision approximately 22 times.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Baker and Jessica Massey prosecuted the case.
Akron Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Children and Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Joshua Allen Saunders, 27, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 40 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams on Thursday, August 4, 2022. Saunders previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
In addition to the sentence, Saunders was ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release and must pay $55,000 in restitution.
“There is no greater priority for all of law enforcement than protecting our community’s children from harm and predators,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “This lengthy sentence will ensure that this predator will no longer harm children and should send a message that this type of behavior only ends with significant time behind bars.”
“Identifying, investigating, and catching child predators is a critical part of our mission,” said Cleveland FBI Special Agent in Charge, Gregory Nelsen. “The conniving conduct and domineering behavior Saunders exerted over his victims is detestable. The FBI is proud to collaborate with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure thorough investigations are conducted and we eliminate criminal behavior that exploits children.”
According to court documents, federal authorities began an investigation into Saunders after receiving information that he was involved in distributing child sexual abuse materials online. On November 2, 2021, authorities executed a search warrant on Saunders at a residence in Akron. During the search, agents seized and reviewed the contents of Saunders’ cell phone and observed two videos of Saunders engaged in sexual conduct with a minor.
The case was investigated by the Akron FBI and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.
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Aircraft Parts Foundry Agrees to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Failure to Conduct Testing and Falsified Test ResultsRead the Press Release
WDC Acquisitions LLC d/b/a Wellman Dynamics located in Creston, Iowa, will pay $500,000 to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act for failing to conduct contractually required testing and falsifying test results for parts used in military aircraft, the Justice Department announced today.
Wellman manufactures large metal castings that it supplies to prime defense contractors, including Bell Helicopter, Textron, Sikorsky Aircraft and the Boeing Company, for use in the UH-1Y, AH-1Z, AH-64 Apache, V22 Osprey and UH-60 Black Hawk programs.
The United States alleged that, between 2014 and 2021, Wellman failed to conduct required metallurgic and other tests on the castings, including tensile strength testing, destructive testing, microstructure analysis, hot isostatic testing and salt fog testing, and falsely certified results of tests that had not been performed. The settlement was based on an analysis of the company’s ability to pay.
“Proper testing is critical for ensuring the proper performance of the equipment that is provided to our men and women in uniform” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable those who knowingly falsify or fail to conduct required tests and put our military at risk.”
“It is imperative that our defense contractors and subcontractors provide the high-quality and properly tested products the military needs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Timothy Duax for the Northern District of Iowa. “We are proud to work tirelessly with our partners to ensure that this is the case.”
The settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Wellman employee Bradley Keller. Under those provisions, a private party can file a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Keller will receive $90,000. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Bradley Keller v. WDC Acquisitions, LLC d/b/a Wellman Dynamics and Trive Capital Management LLC (N.D. Iowa No. 20-CV-100-LTS-MAR).
This matter was investigated by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. The investigation was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Alicia J. Bentley of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Gillespie.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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22 Defendants Charged in 22-Count Indictment Alleging Middle Georgia Drug Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – 22 individuals are facing federal charges resulting from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation into an alleged armed drug trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and other controlled substances in Middle Georgia. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct. All of the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
A federal indictment was returned on June 15 charging the following individuals:
- Cornelius Leonard aka Tae, 28, of Grantville, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; three counts of distribution of methamphetamine; two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; possession of a stolen firearm; possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; possession of heroin with the intent to distribute; possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and, conspiracy to tamper with a witness. If convicted, Leonard faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $8,000,000 fine.
- Kedric Fuller aka Blakk Ru, 41, of Woodbury, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Fuller faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Markevious Snipes aka Big Dawg, 31, of Thomaston, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to tamper with a witness. If convicted, Snipes faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Pedro Valencia aka Casper aka Bossman, 45, of Calhoun State Prison, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Valencia faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Horatio Venable aka Ray, 25, of Columbus, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. If convicted, Venable faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Rashad Moreland, 36, of Columbus, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Moreland faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Antovious Hunter aka Ant, 39, of Columbus, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Hunter faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Darius Wellmaker, 39, of Thomaston, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Wellmaker faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Ashley Ingram, 35, of Cataula, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Ingram faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Mechile Hobbs, 48, of Woodbury, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, Hobbs faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Mark Dean, 44, of Manchester, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Dean faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Nehemiah Johnson aka Brazy, 29, of Thomaston, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Jennifer Moss, 38, of Molena, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, Moss faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Justin Whitten, 36, Hogansville, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Whitten faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Natashia Antley, 34, of Thomaston, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Antley faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Krystal Juarez Norman, 33, of Thomaston, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Norman faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Dixie Bailey, 33, of Thomaston, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Bailey faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Carlton Power, 26, of Manchester, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Power faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Dustin Robbins, 33, of Columbus, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Robbins faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Sabrina Smith, 32, of Thomaston, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of methamphetamine. If convicted, Smith faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Joshua McAfee, 34, of Thomaston, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, McAfee faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine.
- Ramone Zorn aka Big Razor, 52, of Thomaston, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, Zorn faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $20,000,000 fine.
Initial appearances for the defendants occurred beginning on July 20 with more scheduled through August 10 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Q. Langstaff.
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.
This case is being investigated by FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen is prosecuting the case.
- Cornelius Leonard aka Tae, 28, of Grantville, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; three counts of distribution of methamphetamine; two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; possession of a stolen firearm; possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; possession of heroin with the intent to distribute; possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and, conspiracy to tamper with a witness. If convicted, Leonard faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $8,000,000 fine.
6 August 2022
Bay City Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BAY CITY – On August 4, 2022, Justin William Zube, 34, of Bay City, was sentenced to 15 years in prison following his conviction by a federal jury of possessing child pornography depicting minors under age 12, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
U.S. Attorney Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
Zube was convicted in April following a three-day trial before the Honorable Thomas L. Ludington in the United States District Court in Bay City. According to the evidence presented at trial, investigators from the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into Zube after receiving a tip from Snapchat and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The investigation culminated in the execution of a search warrant at Zube’s Bay City residence on February 11, 2020. Agents seized multiple digital devices from Zube’s home which were found to contain in excess of 300 images and videos of child pornography.
Zube had been previously convicted of possession of child sexually abusive material in Bay County Circuit Court in 2014.
“Victims depicted in child pornography are not only victimized by their abusers, but also by the individuals who collect and view the images and videos,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “My office appreciates the work of the FBI and Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Computer Crimes Unit for their dedication to investigating crimes against children and holding those who possess these images accountable.”
“The possession of child sexual abuse material – images and videos of actual children being horrifically victimized by child predators - is not a victimless crime,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The children portrayed suffer real and permanent damage for the rest of their lives. With yesterday’s sentence, Zube now faces the consequences necessary to protect the community from this serial offender.”
The case was investigated by the Michigan State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William Vailliencourt and Ann Nee.
5 August 2022
Weymouth Man Pleads Guilty to Market Manipulation ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Weymouth man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in a sophisticated, multi-year market manipulation conspiracy involving securities traded on securities exchanges within the United States, including the New York Stock Exchange and NADSAQ.
Jiali Wang, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled by the Court. Wang was initially charged in October 2019 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on May 24, 2022.
From approximately 2013 through at least 2018, Wang participated in the manipulative trading activity of a group of securities traders located in China and, at times, in Massachusetts. Specifically, Wang and his co-conspirators used multiple brokerage accounts in their names, and in the names of others with whom Wang had a relationship, to artificially depress or inflate the prices of thinly traded securities. They did so by repeatedly placing relatively small sell (or buy) orders designed to send a false signal about a security’s supply (or demand) and to depress (or inflate) the security’s price. Wang and his co-conspirators then immediately placed relatively large buy (or sell) orders on the other side of the market to take advantage of their manipulations. Once the large orders executed, Wang and his co-conspirators cancelled their outstanding manipulative orders.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Wang agreed to forfeit at least $6.5 million in illicit proceeds from the conspiracy.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Western Maryland Physician and Pain Management Practice Group Agree to Pay $980,000 to Settle Federal False Claims Act Allegations of Billing for Medically Unnecessary Urine Drug TestsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Melvin Gonzaga, M.D., his son Rommel Gonzaga, and their practice group Gonzaga Interventional Pain Management (“GIPM”) have agreed to pay the United States $980,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the United States for urine drug tests (“UDT”) that were medically unnecessary.
The civil settlement was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Paul A. Palumbo, of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General (RRB-OIG).
“We are committed to ensuring that patients depending on government-funded insurance are not misled by doctors seeking to line their own pockets by performing medically unnecessary tests or treatments,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.
“Providers who perform medically unnecessary procedures damage the trust of physician patient relationships and exploit taxpayer-funded programs,” stated Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Along with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG is committed to protecting the health of patients and the integrity of federal health care programs serving them.”
“We are committed to holding unscrupulous Railroad Medicare providers accountable and are proud to be part of this collaborative effort,” said Railroad Retirement Board Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Paul A. Palumbo (RRB-OIG). “We would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication and excellent work in this case.”
Dr. Gonzaga is a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist who owns and operates a pain management clinic, GIPM, located in LaVale, Maryland. Rommel Gonzaga is the chief executive officer of GIPM. From January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2019, GIPM billed the Medicare Program, the Medicaid Program, and the Railroad Retirement Board (“RRB”) for a large number of UDTs. GIPM tested its patients using two types of UDTs: presumptive and definitive. A presumptive UDT is an initial test to detect the presence or absence of a substance or class of substances in the body. A definitive UDT is a more advanced test that can identify individual drugs, distinguish between structural isomers, and report the results of drugs present in concentrations of nanograms per milliliter.
This settlement resolves allegations that the UDTs that GIPM billed to the government were not ordered based on an individualized determination of medical necessity for each patient. Instead, GIPM used blanket orders that tested all patients for the same 22+ drug classes. GIPM patients were required to provide a UDT sample upon entry into the clinic and before being seen by a provider and discussing the results from any prior UDT the patient received. Often, UDTs showing unexpected positive or negative results were ignored, or not checked at all, while GIPM providers continued to prescribe the patients opioids and other controlled substances despite obvious warning signs that the patients were abusing drugs.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations. The settlement is not an admission of liability by Dr. Gonzaga, Rommel Gonzaga, or GIPM, nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.
The case arose from an initiative launched by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland which involves the use of specialized resources and personnel to review Medicare billing data. The review of that data has enabled the United States Attorney’s Office to identify areas of concern where it appears that billing irregularities may have taken place. Partnering with the affected agencies, the United States Attorney’s Office has developed the ability to investigate these billing irregularities to determine whether the matter is appropriate for enforcement under the False Claims Act.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HHS-OIG and the RRB-OIG for their work in this investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tarra DeShields and former Assistant United States Attorney Vince Vaccarella, currently a Trial Attorney in the Justice Department’s Civil Frauds Section, who handled this case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Wahoo Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that David Wesley Swanson, 37, of Wahoo, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 4, 2022, to 15 years for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual, (pure), in July of 2020, with a prior violent felony conviction by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Following his release from prison, Swanson will serve ten years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On July 7, 2020, investigators were conducting surveillance on a Lincoln, Nebraska, apartment building. They saw Swanson arrive and go into the building. A short time later, Swanson came out and drove away, followed by investigators. Investigators learned Swanson’s driver’s license was suspended, and they saw him commit traffic violations. He was stopped and arrested for driving on a suspended license. Pursuant to Lincoln Police Department policy, his vehicle had to be towed. Prior to the vehicle being towed, investigators conducted an inventory search and found a bag of methamphetamine containing at least 74 grams (over 2 ½ ounces) of actual (pure) methamphetamine. Swanson told investigators he had just purchased the methamphetamine. Swanson said he had been selling methamphetamine for approximately two years.
Swanson had a prior Nebraska conviction for robbery.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.
Veterans Affairs Medical Center Employee Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Royalston man was arrested yesterday on child pornography charges.
Kevin Divoll, 51, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography. Following an initial appearance yesterday in federal court in Springfield before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni, Divoll was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Aug. 9, 2022.
According to the charging document, investigators identified the IP address of a device distributing child pornography through peer-to-peer communications and determined the device was using the public Wi-Fi at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Leeds. Further investigation identified that Divoll, an employee at the VA Medical Center, as the owner and user of the device. It is alleged that during a search of Divoll’s residence yesterday, a laptop, external hard drive and cellphone were found to contain child pornography including images of toddler-aged children.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Leeds VA Medical Center Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Face Federal Drug Charges After Multi-Agency Search in MontpelierRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that Kimberly Kuncz, 53, of Montpelier, Vermont, and Frederick Campbell II, 19, of Detroit, Michigan, were arrested yesterday and charged today by criminal complaint. Kuncz was charged with distributing cocaine base on June 23, 2022. Campbell was charged with possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base on August 4, 2022. Both defendants will appear before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in the near future.
According to court records, the Vermont Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a controlled purchase of cocaine base from Kuncz on June 23, 2022 in Berlin, Vermont. Thereafter, significant drug activity was observed at Kuncz’s residence located at 19 George Street in Montpelier, Vermont. On August 1, 2022, a federal search warrant was obtained for Kuncz’s George Street residence. On the morning of August 4, 2022, in anticipation of executing the search warrant, law enforcement was conducting surveillance of the George Street residence. A rented black Ford F-150 was seen leaving 19 George Street at approximately 5:30 a.m. and was observed speeding on multiple occasions. After a traffic stop, Campbell was identified as the driver. The search of 19 George Street established probable cause that there were drugs in the F-150, and a search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure from under the driver’s seat of a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, with 14 rounds of ammunition including a round in the chamber. A search of Campbell’s person resulted in the seizure of approximately 7 grams of cocaine base. In addition, the search of Kuncz’s residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 78 grams of suspected cocaine base, 2.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine, $2,000 in cash, and digital scales.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Kuncz and Campbell are presumed innocent until and unless convicted of a crime.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Montpelier Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kerest also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Northfield Police Department, the State of Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Vermont Capitol Police for their assistance during yesterday’s search warrant execution.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Kuncz is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. Campbell is represented by Gregory Mertz, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn
Statement of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the 57th Anniversary of the Voting Rights ActRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued the following statement today commemorating the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act:
"Fifty-seven years ago tomorrow, one of our nation’s most consequential pieces of civil rights legislation -- the Voting Rights Act of 1965 -- was signed into law.
"The Voting Rights Act sought to make real the 15th Amendment's guarantee that no American citizen be denied the right to vote on account of race.
"Central to the law was Section 5’s “preclearance” provision, which prevented jurisdictions with a history of discriminatory voting practices from adopting new voting rules until they could show the Justice Department or a federal court that the change would not have a racially discriminatory purpose or result.
"Yet in its 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court effectively eliminated the act’s preclearance protections. And in the years since, there has been a dramatic rise in legislative efforts that make it harder for millions of Americans to vote and to elect representatives of their own choice.
"Ahead of the 57th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department remains committed to relentlessly protecting voting rights with the enforcement powers we have. And we continue to ask Congress to restore critical tools to help protect the fundamental right to vote."
St. Louis County man sentenced to 5+ years for traveling for sex with teenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Friday sentenced a St. Louis County man to five years and four months in prison for traveling to Springfield, Ill. in 2019 to have sex with a 15-year-old.
Wesley Kimble, now 25, will also be on supervised release for life.
Kimble met the 15-year-old via an online dating site in the fall of 2019 and began exchanging messages with the teen, with many of the messages being sexual in nature. In December of 2019, Kimble drove to Springfield to pick up the victim. On the return trip, Kimble engaged in sexual activity with the victim, he admitted in a plea agreement. Kimble also provided the victim with illegal drugs and engaged in unprotected sex with the victim once they arrived at his apartment in St. Louis County.
Kimble pleaded guilty in November to a charge of interstate transport of a minor for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.
In court Friday, the victim’s mother read a statement in which the victim said she’d called Kimble after escaping from a Springfield hotel room where she’d been victimized by another man. Kimble took her phone and backpack away, drove her to his apartment and locked her in there.
The victim’s mother said the mental and emotion scars Kimble inflicted on her daughter “can’t be measured and have no end in sight.”
In addition to the prison time, Judge Pitlyk ordered Kimble to undergo drug, mental health and sex offender treatment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and 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. 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.
Springfield, Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking in the Northeast KingdomRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Addiel Santini, 20, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced today to serve 6 months in prison after his conviction for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base. United States District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Santini to serve a three-year term of supervised release after his incarceration.
As Santini admitted in his guilty plea hearing, the Lyndonville Police Department (LPD) entered an apartment on Center Street in Lyndon, Vermont on June 26, 2021. Santini was the only person found in the sole bedroom of the apartment. Later that same day, LPD obtained a search warrant for the apartment. According to court records, during execution of that search warrant, in the bedroom that Santini had been occupying, law enforcement found approximately 3,670 bags of fentanyl-laced heroin, 6.187 grams of cocaine base, 34.54 grams of cocaine, and $5,695 in U.S. currency.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigative efforts of the Vermont Drug Task Force of the Vermont State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Lyndonville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly G. Ang handled the prosecution. Santini was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth.
Six-Time Felon Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Cocaine and Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Sumter, South Carolina man was sentenced today to 77 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On April 21, 2022, Derrick Lee Daye pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Derrick Lee Daye, 35, was arrested on June 21, 2021 after officers with the Dunn Police Department found him with a backpack containing over $18,000 in cash, a loaded gun, and 90 grams of compressed cocaine. Daye, a member of the Bloods street gang, had five prior felony convictions before this arrest.
“I would like to thank U.S. Attorney Michael Easley and his team for their cooperation and hard work in assisting law enforcement officers in a successful prosecution and removal of a dangerous habitual felon from the community,” said Dunn Police Chief Clark White. “This is a perfect example of how local and federal agencies working together can achieve great results.”
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Dunn Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Webb and Nicholas Hartigan prosecuted the case.
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 No. 5:21-CR-335.
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Sisseton Man Federally Indicted for Sexual Abuse of Three ChildrenRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Sisseton, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for aggravated sexual abuse of a child and abusive sexual contact.
Conrad Brown, a/k/a “Coon,” age 43, was indicted on July 6, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on Thursday August 4, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum term of imprisonment upon conviction for each count is up to life imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, five years and up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution and forfeiture may be ordered.
According to the Indictment, from approximately 2019 to late 2021, Brown engaged in sexual acts and contact with three children. All counts alleged that the abuse took place in Roberts County.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
The defendant was detained pending further court proceedings. A trial date has been set for September 27, 2022.
Seattle man sentenced to 11 years in prison for distribution of drugs and possession of firearmsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A West Seattle-man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 11 years in prison and 4 years of supervised release for four federal felonies involving drug distribution, firearms, and obstructing justice, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. David Rosario, 30, was arrested in August 2020 after selling drugs and firearms to an undercover agent. He was arrested again five months later for additional crimes while released on bond. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Richard A. Jones noted that in all his years on the bench, it was the first time he had seen a defendant conspire to intimidate a witness by setting the witness’ car on fire. “That fire could have carried over to the apartment and injured and killed people… People who had no connection to this offense,” Judge Jones said.
Car burned to intimidate witness“Even after his arrest on federal charges, Mr. Rosario continued to endanger the community with guns and drugs and ultimately the fire he used to intimidate a witness,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “We are unwavering in our commitment to protect witnesses and those who assist in uncovering criminal conduct. Mr. Rosario’s demonstrated contempt for the rule of law requires a significant sanction.”
Rosario first came to the attention of law enforcement when an informant told investigators that Rosario was known for selling large quantities of drugs and stolen firearms. In late May, an undercover agent purchased heroin, methamphetamine, and a .22 caliber pistol from Rosario. Over the next two months, Rosario sold the agent more meth and three more guns. On August 11, 2020, Rosario was arrested for gun and drug crimes.
Rosario was released pending trial on the original counts. After Rosario’s release, law enforcement learned Rosario was attempting to retaliate against the person who had provided information about him to law enforcement. In fact, Rosario paid one of his drug customers to set fire to the informant’s car.
On an early morning in November 2020, Rosario’s associate threw a Molotov cocktail into the informant’s car while it was parked in a carport underneath an apartment complex. Fortunately, one of the residents smelled burning rubber and called 911, so the King County Fire Department was able to put out the fire before anyone was injured. An arson investigator from the King County Sheriff’s Office estimated that the fire would have spread to the apartments and possibly killed residents if it had not been discovered so quickly.
As law enforcement investigated the arson, they also discovered Rosario’s ongoing criminal conduct. He violated his bond by changing his residence, possessing firearms, and selling drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Rosario even sold fentanyl while attending required online drug treatment classes. When Rosario was rearrested in January 2021, his phone contained numerous photos showing him with guns, cash, fentanyl pills and a photo of the burned-out car.
On April 21, 2022, Rosario pleaded guilty to carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, distribution of methamphetamine, unlawful receipt of a firearm, and conspiracy to use fire to obstruct justice.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the King County Sheriff’s Office, with help from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Manca.
Drugs, money and gunsSan Antonio Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for production of child pornography.
According to court documents, on December 1, 2020, officers from the San Antonio Police Department were called regarding a complaint that Michael Anthony Martinez Jr., 34, had video of child pornography on his cellular phone. A search warrant was executed on Martinez’s phone and numerous files depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct were found. Also on the phone was a video Martinez filmed showing him sexually abusing a two-year-old child.
On April 7, 2022, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. Martinez has been in federal custody since his arrest on March 8, 2021.
“As a society, we must vigilantly protect the innocence and health of our children,” said Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Callahan. “This defendant was caught only because someone had the courage to report him and protect a child from a dangerous predator. For the sake of our future generations, we must let authorities know when suspected child abuse is occurring.”
“The horrible acts perpetrated by those who exploit and victimize innocent children demand justice, and that’s why the FBI works tirelessly every day with our law enforcement partners on these cases,” said FBI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. “This sentencing is a reminder of our continued focus on holding these dangerous predators accountable.”
The FBI and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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San Antonio Bookkeeper Sentenced for FraudRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for financial and tax fraud.
According to court documents, Alicia Henderson, 60, was the office manager and bookkeeper for a non-profit corporation that provided services for the San Antonio Downtown Public Improvement District. Her responsibilities included oversight of the accounting and financial reporting functions for the non-profit corporation.
Between July 2014 and November 2017, Henderson forged or wrote to herself 118 checks drawn on the non-profit’s bank account and deposited the funds into her personal bank account. Henderson used the stolen money, totaling $291,385.23, for her own personal benefit but did not report the embezzled funds on her federal tax forms. Henderson owed $64,719 in taxes for 2014 to 2016.
In addition to the prison sentence, Henderson also was ordered to pay $356,104.23 in restitution. On October 21, 2020, Henderson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of false statements on an income tax return.
“Ms. Henderson betrayed the public trust by first stealing from a non-profit and then failing to pay taxes on her income,” said Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Callahan. “Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who use their positions to defraud citizens of San Antonio for their own personal enrichment.”
“This individual took advantage of her position to personally enrich herself at the expense of the citizens of San Antonio,” said FBI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. “The public can have confidence that the defendant will be held accountable for the crimes she committed.”
“The fraud and tax crimes perpetrated by Alicia Henderson cause people to distrust otherwise lawful enterprises and non-profit organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington, of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office, which includes San Antonio in its jurisdiction. “The sentencing today hopefully helps restore some of that public trust and reinforce to other would-be criminals and tax evaders that there is a price to pay for crime.”
The FBI and IRS-CI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. Blackwell and William R. Harris prosecuted the case.
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Repeat child pornography offender sentenced to 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Friday sentenced a man who was caught with child pornography for a second time to 10 years in prison.
Johnny Lee Hesse, now 41, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of child pornography in 2013 and was sentenced to nearly five years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release.
In March of 2021, the U.S. Probation Office received a tip that Hesse was again in possession of child pornography. A search found an unapproved cell phone and a laptop computer, and Hesse admitted using both to search for child pornography. Hesse had over 1,000 images containing child pornography, including images he’d deleted, his plea agreement says.
Hesse pleaded guilty in May to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of accessing with intent to view child pornography.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Probation Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It 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. 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.
Readout of Justice Department Meeting with Families of Fallen OfficersRead the Press Release
The Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and Associate Attorney General today met with families of fallen officers to discuss the importance of the passage of the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022. The bipartisan bill expands coverage of the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, administered by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, to include officers who are permanently and totally disabled due to particular mental health disorders and/or who die by suicide as a result of exposure to a traumatic event they encounter while on duty.
“Every day, public safety officers across the country put themselves in harm’s way to respond to some of the most difficult and traumatic moments that our communities face,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department welcomes the passage of the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022, which will enable us to provide support to the families of fallen officers who have died by suicide and to officers who have suffered debilitating trauma-related mental health injuries.”
“The Justice Department knows the toll that service in law enforcement can take, not only on those in uniform but also on those around them,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “We commend Congress for passing the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022. It provides critical new support to families of the fallen. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that public safety officers throughout the law enforcement community are cared for and protected, just as they care for and protect us all.”
“Supporting public safety officers and their families after a tragic loss or catastrophic disability is one of our solemn responsibilities at the Justice Department,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Since 1976, the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program—administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance—has provided nearly $2 billion in assistance to survivors of first responders. This bipartisan legislation is a welcome response to concerns expressed by the public safety community that this support be extended to recognize harms from an exposure to trauma while on duty. We commend members of Congress for their leadership on this issue and look forward to putting this bill to work on behalf of the brave professionals who serve and protect our communities.”
During the meeting, Department leadership heard directly from families about the unique grief of losing a loved one to suicide and discussed the impact this legislation will have on the healing process for families. Department officials recognized that public safety officers are routinely called to respond to stressful and potentially traumatic situations, often putting their lives in danger.
Participating in the meeting were family members of officers Howard “Howie” Liebengood of the U.S. Capitol Police, Jeffrey Smith of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and Shelane Gaydos of the Fairfax County Police Department.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on July 29, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Nathaniel Jones, age 54, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jones was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2021 and pleaded guilty on December 17, 2021. The conviction stems from Jones, who was previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and is prohibited from possessing firearms, knowingly possessing a Taurus, model PTl11 G2c, 9xl9mm Luger caliber, semiautomatic pistol, which was found after Jones came into contact with law enforcement in August 2021 in Rapid City.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Jones was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pinon Man Arrested for Alleged Murder of Missing Navajo Woman and Acts of Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. –Yesterday, Tre C. James, 30, of Pinon, Arizona, was arrested for first-degree murder and several acts of domestic violence. James had his initial appearance yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Camille D. Bibles. A detention hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, August 9, 2022, in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Earlier this week, a federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment against James. Counts 1 and 2 allege James shot and killed Jamie Yazzie, a Pinon woman who went missing in the summer of 2019, and whose remains were found on the Hopi Indian Reservation in November 2021. Ms. Yazzie was listed as a missing person by both federal and tribal law enforcement, and the circumstances of her disappearance were investigated jointly by the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Services, Navajo Nation Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo County Sherriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
James was also indicted for several acts of domestic violence. Counts 3 through 8 allege that James committed acts of domestic violence against three victims – between 2018 and 2021 – including suffocation, strangling, kidnapping, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is committed to addressing the persistent violence endured by Native American families and communities in the state of Arizona, including by working with Tribal nations to address the important issues of missing or murdered indigenous persons and acts of domestic violence. This office and the Department of Justice view this work as a priority for its law enforcement components.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-08073-PHX-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-131_James# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Kiantre D. Dykeman, 24, of the 5100 block of North Karen Court, has been sentenced to 132 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release for distribution of child pornography. Dykeman must also register as a sex offender.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that in February 2021, the Peoria Police Department coordinated with the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Secret Service to investigate an individual suspected of selling images of child pornography on the Internet. Agents discovered during the investigation that Dykeman used Instagram to post images of prepubescent females accompanied by prices for various packages of child pornography and “teen nudes” images and videos. The account held by Dykeman represented that it had over 1,000 pictures depicting child pornography available for sale.
In March 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Dykeman’s residence in Peoria. Dykeman admitted to using Instagram to advertise the sale of child pornography images and videos. He stated he downloaded the child pornography but did not create the images. A review of Dykeman’s online accounts established that he had distributed child pornography to others, in exchange for money, using online messaging and had received payment using internet-based applications. Evidence presented at sentencing established that Dykeman was engaged in distributing child pornography for approximately a two-month period and had received approximately $200 in exchange for distributing the images and videos of children engaged in sex acts with adults.
In imposing the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge James Shadid noted that the victims in child pornography cases are real people who have been sexually abused as children, and they are victimized and traumatized over and over again their entire lives by the reality that images of their abuse are sent out into cyberspace and traded for others’ gratification or gain.
Dykeman was indicted in March 2021 and pleaded guilty on April 4, 2022. He has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since that date.
The statutory penalties for distribution of child pornography are 5 to 20 years of imprisonment, 5 years to life of supervised release, and possible fines of up to $250,000.
“The Department of Justice is committed to the safety and well-being of children and will continue to aggressively identify, investigate, and prosecute those who engage in the receipt, possession, distribution, and production of images of child sex abuse,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna.
The Peoria Police Department and the United States Secret Service, along with the assistance of the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office and the Bloomington Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Dykeman was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Pelion Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Defrauding Investors Out of More Than $3 MillionRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Samuel Sturkie Jackson, Jr., 51, of Pelion, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for defrauding individual investors out more than three million dollars.
“When taxpayers invest their hard-earned money in a business, they have every right to expect that no one will rob them,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “Samuel Jackson did exactly that, and stole millions. With the thorough work of our state and federal partners, this Office brought him to justice and he will spend several years in federal prison and has been ordered to make restitution to his victims.”
“The U.S. Secret Service remains focused on bringing those who commit financial crimes to justice,” said John Hirt, Special Agent in Charge of the Columbia Field Office for the U.S. Secret Service. “In this instance, Samuel Jackson turned his investors into victims, betraying their trust to carry out his own embezzlement scheme. I commend our partners at SLED and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts working alongside the U.S. Secret Service personnel that investigated this case in order to bring some justice to the victims in this scheme.”
“White-collar crime costs all of us,” said South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Mark Keel. “SLED agents and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to defraud others.”
Evidence presented to the Court showed that, while operating an Automated Transaction Machine (ATM) business called Little Giant ATM, Jackson solicited investments from individual investors and promised them a monthly rate of return. The purpose of these investments was to load cash into the ATM machines, with anticipated profits from transaction fees. However, from 2015 to 2019, Jackson converted money from the business and investor deposits to his own use, spending the money on farm equipment, cars, and trips to Las Vegas. Through this scheme, Jackson defrauded Little Giant ATM investors of over $3.4 million.
United States District Judge Terry Wooten sentenced Jackson to 48 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Jackson was also ordered to pay $3.4 million in restitution.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and SLED. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Book Andrews prosecuted the case.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jesus Guillen Lopez, 46, of Alvordton, Ohio, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of fentanyl and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Lopez to 87 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a two-year term of supervised release.
On April 16, 2021, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper stopped a Chevy Traverse on I-80 for following too close. Lopez was the driver and told the trooper he was coming from Sacramento, California. Lopez gave law enforcement permission to search the vehicle. Law enforcement located 12.9 pounds of fentanyl and 14 pounds of cocaine in the engine compartment of the vehicle.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
North Pekin Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Solicitation and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A North Pekin, Illinois man, Larry Daniel Saal, 54, of the 100 block of Lincoln Boulevard, was sentenced on August 3, 2022, to 6 years in the Bureau of Prisons for soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor and for distribution of child pornography. The sentence is to be followed by a 6-year term of supervised release. Saal must also register as a sex offender and pay $13,000 in restitution to the victims.
At the sentencing hearing in front of U.S. District Court Judge Joe Billy McDade, the government presented evidence that, in 2015, Saal emailed another individual on Yahoo to request images and videos depicting adults sexually abusing prepubescent children. In 2016, Saal emailed images and videos containing child pornography to another Yahoo user. Law enforcement officers interviewed Saal in 2021, and he admitted receiving child pornography through Yahoo. Law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for his phone, and they found images of child pornography and internet searches related to child pornography from April 2021.
Saal was indicted in September 2021 and pleaded guilty in February 2022.
The statutory penalties for each count are 5 to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and 5 years to life of supervised release.
The Washington Police Department and Department of Homeland Security investigated the case, assisted by the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Saal was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Calvin Moore, 32, of Silver City, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 14, 2021, law enforcement officers visited a Sixth Street residence in Charleston looking for Moore. In an attempt to flee, Moore jumped out of a window of the residence. After a brief struggle, officers detained Moore and found a loaded Bryco Arms Jennings .22LR firearm with a chambered round in Moore’s front pants pocket. The firearm was found to have been stolen.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Moore is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his 2012 felony conviction in North Carolina for robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Moore is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-217.
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Newell Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Newell, South Dakota, woman convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance was sentenced on August 4, 2022, by Judge Karen E. Schreier, U.S. District Court.
Kimberly Rich, age 56, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Rich was also ordered to pay $170 restitution to the South Dakota Health Lab and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rich was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2022 and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2022. The conviction stems from Rich knowingly and intentionally distributing a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in January 2022.
The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Meade County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Blair prosecuted the case.
Rich was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Newark, DE Man Pleads Guilty to Prescription Fraud Charges Just Before TrialRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Maurice Bertrand, 34, of Newark, DE, pleaded guilty just before jury selection was set to begin for trial in front of United States District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III, to one count of fraudulently obtaining oxycodone, and one count of attempting to fraudulently obtain oxycodone.
In September 2019, the defendant was charged in connection with his scheme to present forged prescriptions written under the name of a Center City doctor whom he had never met at a Marcus Hook area pharmacy. Evidence which would have been presented at trial would have shown that in May 2019, Bertrand obtained 90 oxycodone tablets, and in June 2019, he was intercepted by law enforcement while attempting to obtain 120 oxycodone tablets.
The charges against Bertrand and 12 other defendants were originally announced as part of the formation of the Newark/Philadelphia Regional Medicare Fraud Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey. The Strike Force focuses its efforts on aggressively investigating and prosecuting complex cases involving patient harm, large financial loss, and the illegal prescribing and distribution of opioids and other dangerous narcotics. Bertrand is the last of the 13 total defendants to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with this investigation and faces up to eight years in prison.
“Stopping prescription fraud in order to stem the tide of illegal opioid distribution and addiction in our District is a top priority for our Office,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “This thirteenth and final conviction in this investigation demonstrates our commitment to cutting off the supply of addictive drugs diverted to the streets in order to keep our communities safe.”
These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Easttown Township Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Troyer.
New York Woman Sentenced for Smuggling Suboxone into PrisonRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on August 4, 2022, Jessika Ann Sanders, age 34, of New York, was sentenced to three and a half months’ imprisonment to be followed by a two-year term of supervised release by Chief United States District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann, for providing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Tyrone Wayne Meachem was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood (FCI Allenwood), in White Deer, Pennsylvania. On April 7, 2018, Sanders visited Meachem and gave him a sandwich containing three balloons filled with 68 strips of Suboxone. Suboxone contains buprenorphine, a controlled substance. Meachem recruited Sanders to smuggle the Suboxone so Meachem could pay off a debt to another inmate.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur prosecuted the case.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced to 64 Months for Violating the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On August 4, 2022, United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced STEPHONE BRIDGES to 64 months in the Bureau of Prisons for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
BRIDGES was charged on November 19, 2021 in a one-count indictment with possessing a Glock 49x 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a red transparent magazine with 18 live rounds while being a convicted felon. BRIDGES’s term of imprisonment will be followed by three (3) years of supervised release and the court ordered him to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the New Orleans Police Department, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced for Mortgage FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – THEODORE KURZ, age 72, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on August 4, 2022 for mortgage fraud by the Honorable Nannette Jolivette Brown, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. KURZ was sentenced to time served, 5 years of supervised release, $751,900 in restitution, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, KURZ obtained mortgages for three properties through the State of Louisiana, Division of Administration, Office of Community Development. He then forged mortgage cancellations that he filed with the Orleans Parish Clerk of Court to falsely make it appear that the loans had been satisfied. KURZ then obtained mortgages through a different lender, falsely claiming that there were no outstanding mortgages or liens on the properties.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Chief of General Crimes Unit.
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Nampa Man Sentenced to 10.5 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Nampa man was sentenced to 126 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court records, on June 9, 2021, Jason Paul Janes, 45, of Nampa, Idaho, distributed more than two pounds of methamphetamine for $3,800 to another person.
Janes has criminal history spanning nearly three decades, and includes convictions for burglary, forgery, and possession of a controlled substance.
U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl, from the District of Wyoming, sitting by designation, also ordered Janes to pay a $250 fine and to serve 5 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Janes pleaded guilty to the charge on February 16, 2022
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the efforts of Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force, which led to charges.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.
This case was investigated by Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Boise Police Department; Caldwell Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; Meridian Police Department; Nampa Police Department; and Idaho Department of Correction.
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Minnesota Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a ShotgunRead the Press Release
A Minnesota man who possessed a 12-gauge shot gun while using marijuana and being a convicted felon, was sentenced August 4, 2022 to 10 years in federal prison.
Michael Anthony Hangman, age 36, from Worthington, MN, received the prison term after a guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
At the plea hearing, Hangman admitted to possessing a 12-gauge shotgun while being an unlawful user of marijuana and having prior felony convictions. Hangman led law enforcement on a police chase beginning in Minnesota and ending in Iowa. Hangman was traveling at speeds reaching 100 mph. Hangman’s shotgun was modified or cut to approximately 19 inches. Officers recovered marijuana, a digital scale with meth residue on it, and baggies from Hangman’s car. Hangman was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his drug use and prior felony convictions in the State of Minnesota for Terroristic Threats-Reckless Disregard, and Drugs-Storing Meth Paraphernalia in the Presence of Child or Vulnerable Adult.
Evidence presented at sentencing also revealed that Hangman brutally assaulted an inmate while incarcerated in the Woodbury County Jail on July 16, 2021 pending trial in this case and stabbed two more inmates in U.S. Penitentiary Leavenworth shortly before sentencing, on July 11, 2022.
Hangman was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hangman was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons and Mikala Steenholdt-Purdy, and was investigated by Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Osceola County Attorney’s Office, Nobles County Sheriff’s Office (MN), Buffalo Police Department (MN), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms,
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations Crime Laboratory, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4003.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Milton Man Sentenced for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a used car dealership in Fall River has been sentenced for money laundering.
Augustine Osemwegie, 53, of Milton, was sentenced on Aug. 3, 2022 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to six months of home confinement and two years of supervised release. Osemwegie was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,500 and forfeiture. On April 21, 2022, Osemwegie pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering.
Osemwegie used his car dealership, vehicle auctions and international car shipping to launder and transmit the proceeds of romance scams, pandemic unemployment fraud and other fraudulent schemes. Specifically, Osemwegie accepted fraud proceeds in cash from “customers,” took a percentage fee for laundering the funds and then used the remaining funds to purchase used vehicles at auto auctions, purportedly for the use of his customers. Osemwegie then shipped those vehicles abroad, principally to Nigeria, where they were sold for the benefit of Osemwegie’s customers.
In September 2020, during recorded calls and meetings with an undercover agent, Osemwegie agreed to accept fraud proceeds from the undercover agent and transfer them abroad, under the guise of purchasing a used luxury sedan.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Stearns of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Indicted for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that JUAN MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA, a/k/a “Fernando A. Lopez”, a/k/a “Juan C. Martinez”, a/k/a “Oscar Flores”, a/k/a “Martin Peralta”, a/k/a “Juan Castaneda”, age 54, was charged on August 4, 2022 in a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the indictment, JUAN MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA (“MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA”) reentered the United States after he was previously deported on February 3, 2003. If convicted, MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
Methuen Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Methuen man pleaded guilty on Aug. 3, 2022 in federal court in Boston to his involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy.
Nino De Leon Guzman, a/k/a “Chino,” 31, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, two counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Oct. 27, 2022. Guzman was charged in June 2021 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2021.
From October 2020 through in or about June 2021, undercover law enforcement agents purchased fentanyl from Guzman and his associated drug trafficking organization on nine separate occasions in the Lawrence and Methuen area. At the time of his arrest on June 23, 2021, Guzman was found in possession of fentanyl and the cell phone undercover agents used to call him for fentanyl deals. A subsequent search of Guzman’s residence in Methuen resulted in the recovery of a kilogram brick of fentanyl, a blender containing multiple bags of fentanyl, a drug ledger, clothing he had worn in prior drug transactions and a sock in a nightstand containing $2,500 cash in drug proceeds.
“Drug traffickers who pedal the poison that is fentanyl will be aggressively prosecuted by our office,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The quantities at issue in this prosecution put real lives at risk and inflict a huge amount of harm on the hardworking people of Lawrence and Methuen who want to raise their families in communities free from drug trafficking and violence.”
“Fentanyl is causing tremendous damage to the state of Massachusetts,” Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division. “This court proceeding should act as a warning to those traffickers who are distributing this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combating the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes this deadly drug.”
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl each provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl each provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of distribution of fentanyl provides for up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Levy and DEA SAC Boyle made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
Maryland Man Indicted for Employment Tax ViolationsRead the Press Release
A Maryland man made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday after being charged with 16 counts of willful failure to collect, account for and pay over employment taxes to the IRS.
According to the indictment, Brett Hill, of Parkton, owned and operated two telecommunications companies and was responsible for collecting and paying to the IRS income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes withheld from the wages of employees at both companies. Hill allegedly collected such taxes from the employees of the two companies but did not pay those taxes to the IRS or file quarterly employment tax returns. In total, Hill did not pay to the IRS approximately $900,000 in payroll taxes related to the two companies.
If convicted, Hill faces up to five years in prison for each of 16 counts of willful failure to collect or pay over employment taxes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Catriona Coppler of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.