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11 May 2022
Peoria Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Randall R. Ray IV, 33, was sentenced on May 10, 2022, to 14 years in prison for possession of child pornography.
According to court filings, in July 2021, Ray produced and possessed a video that depicted a minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Another individual found the video in Ray’s phone and notified authorities.
Ray was indicted in August 2021 and pleaded guilty in January 2022. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his indictment.
The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum $250,000 fine, and a five-year to life term of supervised release.
The United States Secret Service and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Ray 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.
Peoria Felon Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A 23-year-old Peoria, Illinois, man, Alante Malik Jackson, of the 4300 block of West Scenic Drive, was sentenced on May 10, 2022, to three years’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a felon.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that on September 21, 2021, Peoria Police observed Jackson driving a stolen Dodge Charger that had been used to flee from police on multiple prior occasions. At the time, Jackson was on probation for a state felony firearm case. When Jackson saw police drive into the gas station where he was parked at the fuel pump, he entered the Charger and sped away, leaving a cloud of smoke and debris. Police followed Jackson, who crashed into a truck, causing the Charger to sustain a flat tire and become disabled. Jackson then fled on foot from police in a residential area and, during the chase, threw a handgun on the roof of a garage. Jackson was apprehended in the backyard of a residence. Police then retrieved the firearm, a loaded Glock 23, 9mm handgun equipped with a high-capacity magazine loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition. The gun had previously been reported stolen from Canton, Illinois.
Jackson was indicted on the federal charge of felon in possession of a firearm in October 2021 and pleaded guilty in December 2021. He has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his indictment.
The statutory penalties for felon in possession of a firearm are up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Peoria Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
Patrick Dwayne Murphy Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for 1999 Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Patrick Dwayne Murphy, age 53, of Vernon, Oklahoma was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty by a federal jury of Murder – Second Degree in Indian Country, Murder in Indian Country in Perpetration of Kidnapping, and Kidnapping Resulting in Death. The life sentences on each count were ordered to run concurrently.
Murphy was originally tried and convicted in 2000 in the District Court of McIntosh County, Oklahoma. Murphy challenged his murder conviction arguing that the State of Oklahoma did not have jurisdiction to prosecute him because he is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and Congress had never disestablished the Muscogee (Creek) reservation. The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit agreed and vacated Murphy’s conviction. The State of Oklahoma appealed the decision to the United States Supreme Court. While the United States Supreme Court was considering Oklahoma’s appeal, the Court handed down its ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma which affirmed the Tenth Circuit’s ruling regarding Murphy.
As a result, Murphy was charged in federal court and convicted by a federal jury in August 2021. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that two days before the murder the defendant stated he would kill George Jacobs. On August 28, 1999, the defendant found George Jacobs and Jacobs’ friend, M.S., driving on a road in rural McIntosh County. The defendant chased after M.S. and George Jacobs in his vehicle and ultimately forced M.S. and George Jacobs to stop. The defendant, along with two others, attacked George Jacobs. After beating and kicking him, the defendant cut Jacob’s throat with a knife and cut off his penis and testicles. The next day, deputies of the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Department and agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation apprehended and arrested the defendant.
“After more than twenty years, justice has been restored to the George Jacobs family,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Although the life sentences imposed by the Court will not take away the family’s pain and sorrow, they can take solace knowing the defendant will be held accountable for the heinous crimes he committed. I am grateful for the tireless work of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and our team at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in reinvestigating and successfully prosecuting the defendant decades after his vicious acts.”
"The nature and circumstances of the defendant's brutal killing of George Jacobs are beyond description, and inescapable in the eyes of justice," said Special Agent in Charge Edward Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. "For his crimes, Patrick Murphy will now spend the rest of his life behind the bars of a federal prison cell. It’s our sincerest hope that this sentencing, through the perseverance of those who worked this case, brings justice and closure to George’s family.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the sentencing hearing. Murphy was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal to await commitment to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Robert Reeves prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Owensboro Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury on Fentanyl and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment today charging an Owensboro, KY man with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and with illegal possession of firearms.
According to court records, on February 18, 2022, Skylar Chase Riney, 36, a multi-time convicted felon, possessed with the intent to distribute, fentanyl and three firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
Riney is charged with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The defendant will be scheduled for his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years and a maximum term of 20 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Owensboro Police Department, and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Orem Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison and Ordered to Pay $8.4 Million in Restitution for Romance and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY- Jeffersonking Anyanwu, 34, of Orem, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with facilitating a romance scheme involving more than 350 victims. Anyanwu was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $8.4 million in restitution to the victims of his crimes.
Anyanwu was one of eight defendants who were charged in an indictment for their role in facilitating romance scams and laundering the money received from those scams. He and his codefendants allegedly took more than $8.4 million from more than 350 victims, many of them elderly. Anyanwu worked with coconspirators in the United States and in Nigeria, and used social media to create online personas to use in “romance scams.” Romance scams involve creating fake online personas to ensnare victims susceptible to online friendships.
The fake personas were usually males in the 55–65-year-old range, and appeared to target widows, divorcees, or women in troubled marriages. Victims were apparently targeted through social media sites, dating sites, and online games such as word searches or word puzzle games. Anyanwu allegedly used more than 20 accounts to facilitate the scheme.
Several kinds of imposter personas were employed. Often, they employed the identities of real U.S. generals. The imposters convinced the women that they were stationed overseas, intended to marry the women, and had significant assets overseas. They also convinced the women that they could not access their assets or leave the foreign station unless the women advanced them funds to be used to release their assets and obtain secure travel.
The romance scams in the scheme also included imposters posing as businessmen located abroad on oil rig platforms or constructing pipelines. The imposters would convince the women that the imposters were romantically interested in the women, but they could not leave until they finished the pending project. They would then convince the women to help advance funds to help complete the project, assuring the women that it was a safe and secure investment that would be returned to them.
The romance scams also involved efforts to impersonate celebrities. The imposters would encourage women to advance funds for a celebrity-meet-and-greet, a celebrity’s charity, or to help the celebrity while funds were tied up in a divorce.
To collect money from the victims, the imposters (largely overseas) turned to coconspirators whose location would not trigger suspicion. These coconspirators would provide U.S. bank accounts and addresses to be relayed to the victims to help convince them to send money.
In addition to Anyanwu, five other defendants have pleaded guilty and received sentences. Defendant Onoriode Kenneth Adigbolo was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment. Defendant Daniel Negedu and Defendant Richard Bassey Ukorebi were each sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment. Defendant David Maduagu was sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment. These Defendants have been ordered jointly and severally liable for $8.4 million in restitution. Defendant Adriana Sotelo was sentenced to 12 months’ home confinement. The case remains pending against two other defendants.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carl LeSueur and Aaron Clark from the District of Utah prosecuted the case. Special Agents from the FBI conducted the investigation.
The indictment in this case was one of several resulting from an investigation by the FBI’s Provo, Utah office into romance scam and money laundering activities.
For more information about romance scams please visit the FBI’s informational website here.
North Carolina Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol BreachRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A North Carolina man was arrested today for assaulting law enforcement officers during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His and others’ actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
David Joseph Gietzen, 38, of Sanford, North Carolina, is charged in an indictment with a total of eight counts, including one charging him with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon, two charging him with assaulting resisting or impeding officers, and related offenses. The indictment was unsealed today in the District of Columbia. Gietzen was arrested in Sanford and is to make his initial appearance today in the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to the indictment, Gietzen was illegally on the restricted Capitol grounds on Jan. 6. He is accused of assaulting multiple law enforcement officers between 2:13 p.m. and 2:31 p.m. that day, using a pole in the last of the charged attacks.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Gietzen as #217 in its seeking information photos, and the Raleigh Resident Agency of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 16 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 800 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 250 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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New York Racehorse Veterinarian and Standardbred Trainer Plead Guilty in Federal Doping CaseRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendants LOUIS GRASSO and RICHARD BANCA pled guilty to their respective roles in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead, in connection with the charges filed in United States v. Grasso et al., 20 Cr. 163 (OKC). Both GRASSO and BANCA pled guilty before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel. GRASSO and BANCA will each be sentenced by Judge Castel on September 6, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Grasso and Banca represent the corruption and greed of those in the racehorse industry looking to win at any cost. In peddling illegal drugs and selling prescriptions to corrupt trainers, Louis Grasso abdicated his responsibilities as a medical professional to ensure the safety and health of the racehorses he “treated.” By injecting horses with unnecessary and, at times, unknown drugs, Grasso risked the lives and welfare of the animals under his care, all in service of helping corrupt racehorse trainers like Banca line their pockets through fraud. These latest convictions demonstrate the commitment of this Office and of our partners at the FBI to hold accountable individuals seeking to profit from animal abuse and deceit.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment, the Superseding Information charging GRASSO and BANCA, prior charging instruments and other filings in this case[1], and statements during court proceedings:
The charges in the GRASSO case arise from an investigation of widespread schemes by racehorse trainers, veterinarians, PED distributors, and others to manufacture, distribute, and receive adulterated and misbranded PEDs and to secretly administer those PEDs to racehorses competing at all levels of professional horseracing. By evading PED prohibitions and deceiving regulators and horse racing officials, participants in these schemes sought to improve race performance and obtain prize money from racetracks throughout the United States, all to the detriment and risk of the health and well-being of the racehorses. GRASSO, a veterinarian, not only accepted payment in exchange for prescriptions for powerful and medically unnecessary performance-enhancing drugs, he also created, distributed, and administered custom-made performance-enhancing drugs that were all misbranded and adulterated substances designed solely to improve racehorse performance. Through this fraudulent scheme, GRASSO helped corrupt trainers collect over $47 million in ill-gotten purse winnings. As a racehorse trainer, BANCA purchased and administered adulterated and misbranded drugs to his racehorses, and as a result of his crimes, his horses earned over $16 million in purse winnings. BANCA stood to profit from the success of racehorses under his control by earning a share of his horses’ winnings, and by improving his horses’ racing records, thereby yielding higher trainer fees and increasing the number of racehorses under his control.
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U.S. Attorney Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI New York Office’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force and its support of the Bureau’s Integrity in Sports and Gaming Initiative. Mr. Williams also thanked the Food and Drug Administration for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Mortazavi and Anden Chow are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As to Grasso and Banca’s co-defendants, the entirety of the texts of the Indictments and the descriptions of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Firearm ViolationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that, CHRISTOPHER ARANA, age 29, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced in the United States District Court in connection with his plea of guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
United States District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo imposed a sentence of 57 months in the Bureau of Prisons. Following his term of imprisonment, ARANA will be placed on supervised release for 3 years. The court did not impose a fine but imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
On August 20, 2020, New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) officers responded to an aggravated battery by shooting in the 1700 block of Eagle Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. The NOPD officer on the scene was informed that ARANA sustained a gunshot wound to his abdominal area and was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
The officer then requested that Real Time Crime Cameras located in the immediate vicinity of the corner store be reviewed to learn what happened during the shooting. While reviewing the camera footage, the officer observed ARANA arrive at the intersection of Eagle Street and Hickory Street on a bike and stand near the entrance of the store. While standing near the door, ARANA was utilizing his cellular telephone. ARANA observed a vehicle approaching him. The occupants of the vehicle, armed with firearms, began to discharge their firearms at ARANA. ARANA retrieved a fully concealed black semiautomatic handgun from his waistband area during the shooting but did not discharge his firearm. After the shooting, ARANA relocated inside the corner store and discarded the firearm to hide it from law enforcement.
After the shooting, a store employee recovered the firearm possessed by ARANA, a black Smith and Wesson Model SD40 VE, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The firearm contained ten live rounds, one in the chamber, and nine in the magazine.
ARANA is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
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.
This case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Nationwide Prostitution Enterprise That Involved Incapacitating and Stealing from VictimsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RANDY JONAL SCHENCK (a/k/a RuRu, a/k/a “Shaq”), age 41, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana and Downey, California, pleaded guilty on May10, 2022 before United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe to Counts 1 and 7 of a pending indictment, charging him with interstate transportation and use of an interstate facility with intent to carry on unlawful activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1952(a)(3) (Count 1), and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 2 (Count 7).
According to court documents, SCHENCK met Dominique Berry in New Orleans in about early 2013 and soon developed a romantic relationship. Shortly thereafter, SCHENCK encouraged Berry to engage in commercial sex activities (i.e., prostitution) with individuals in the New Orleans, Louisiana area and became involved in the scheduling, coordination, and facilitation of Berry’s commercial sex acts. SCHENCK typically kept all, or most, of the proceeds of the commercial sex acts.
Beginning in about March 2014, and continuing through September 2017, SCHENCK and Berry travelled nationally engaging in their prostitution enterprise, including through California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Tennessee, and Georgia. In furtherance of the enterprise, Berry regularly engaged in commercial sex acts on multiple days of nearly every week between about March 2014 and September 2017. SCHENCK and Berry posted numerous advertisements containing photographs of Berry on multiple location-specific online classified ad service websites and social media applications in that invited interested individuals to contact Berry to schedule sexual interactions, many of which were explicitly commercial.
Beginning in about 2015, the prostitution enterprise evolved to include a scheme to defraud, whereby SCHENCK caused Berry to arrange “out call” interactions at the residences of men who met her through online postings. While at the residences, Berry placed substances in the beverages of the men for the purpose of “spiking” their drinks and rendering them unconscious. Berry then took items of value from the incapacitated men, including jewelry, firearms, electronics, cash, and debit and credit cards. SCHENCK and Berry used the items, without the knowledge or authorization of the people to whom the items belonged, for their benefit and the benefit of individuals associated with them. SCHENCK and Berry implemented the scheme numerous times throughout the United States.
In furtherance of the scheme, on or about February 24, 2017, Berry met the victim, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, through a social media application. After exchanging text messages and phone calls, Berry and the victim agreed to meet at the victim’s apartment. SCHENCK dropped Berry off at the victim’s apartment. Acting at SCHENCK’s direction, while at the victim’s apartment, Berry provided the victim with various substances, including alcohol, to loosen the victim’s inhibitions and to render them more susceptible to theft. After the victim became incapacitated, Berry stole the victim’s personal property, including a debit card. SCHENCK picked Berry up at approximately 1:00 am and then used the victim’s debit card, without the victim’s authorization, to make a purchase at a Walmart Supercenter in New Orleans later that day.
SCHENCK faces up to five years in prison as to Count 1 and up to twenty years in prison as to Count 7, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment per count. SCHENCK may also be ordered to pay restitution to his victims. Sentencing before Judge Ashe has been scheduled for August 18, 2021, at 1:30 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the support provided by numerous law enforcement agencies and private entities involved in the investigation, including the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Tucson (Arizona) Police Department, the Salt River (Arizona) Police Department, the Cobb County (Georgia) Police Department, the Sandy Springs (Georgia) Police Department, the Sacramento (California) Police Department, and Talking Stick Casino (Arizona). Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Unit Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, and Melissa Bücher are in charge of the prosecution.
New London Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ABRAHAM ROSADO, 33, of New London, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy in which cocaine was mailed through the U.S. Postal Service from Puerto Rico to southeastern Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2020, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force in Connecticut intercepted a suspicious package that was destined for a location in Puerto Rico. A court-authorized search of the package revealed $158,900 in cash. Investigators established a connection between Raul Robles, who is Rosado’s cousin, and the seized package, and learned that Robles’ and Rosado’s residence on Blackhall Street in New London had received approximately 25 suspicious parcels from Puerto Rico since September 2019.
Investigators continued to monitor USPS deliveries of parcels mailed from Puerto Rico to the Blackhall Street residence, including multiple parcels addressed to names of individuals who did not reside there. A court-authorized search of one parcel that had been mailed to a fictitious individual at the residence revealed more than a kilogram of cocaine.
Rosado was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on April 8, 2021. On February 16, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Robles also pleaded guilty and, on March 17, 2022, was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the New London and Town of Groton Police Departments. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.
New Jersey Man Convicted of Receiving Military-Type Training from Hizballah, Marriage Fraud, and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ALEXEI SAAB, a/k/a “Ali Hassan Saab,” a/k/a “Alex Saab,” a/k/a “Rachid,” was convicted today of receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, Hizballah, marriage fraud conspiracy, and making false statements, following a two-week trial before the Honorable Paul G. Gardephe.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “A unanimous jury found today that Alexei Saab is guilty of receiving military-type training from Hizballah, a known terrorist organization. The evidence at trial showed that Saab surveilled some of New York’s most iconic and highly trafficked locations, such as the U.N. headquarters, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and local airports, tunnels, and bridges— in order to provide critical intelligence on how they could be most effectively attacked. Saab’s chilling campaign against the American ideals of liberty and freedom has thankfully come to an end.”
According to court documents and evidence at trial:
Hizballah is a Lebanon-based Shia Islamic organization with political, social, and terrorist components. Hizballah was founded in the 1980s with support from Iran after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and its mission includes establishing a fundamentalist Islamic state in Lebanon. Since Hizballah’s formation, the organization has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks that have killed hundreds, including United States citizens and military personnel. In 1997, the U.S. Department of State designated Hizballah a Foreign Terrorist Organization, pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and it remains so designated today. In 2001, pursuant to Executive Order 13224, the U.S. Department of Treasury designated Hizballah a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity. In 2010, State Department officials described Hizballah as the most technically capable terrorist group in the world, and a continued security threat to the United States.
The Islamic Jihad Organization (“IJO”), which is also known as the External Security Organization and “910,” is a component of Hizballah responsible for the planning and coordination of intelligence, counterintelligence, and terrorist activities on behalf of Hizballah outside of Lebanon. In July 2012, an IJO operative detonated explosives on a bus transporting Israeli tourists in the vicinity of an airport in Burgas, Bulgaria, which killed six people and injured 32 others. Law enforcement authorities have disrupted several other IJO attack-planning operations around the world, including the arrest of an IJO operative surveilling Israeli targets in Cyprus in 2012, the seizure of bomb-making precursor chemicals in Thailand in 2012, and a seizure of similar chemicals in May 2015 in connection with the arrest of another IJO operative. In June 2017, two IJO operatives were arrested in the United States and charged with terrorism-related offenses in the Southern District of New York. In May 2019, a jury convicted one of those two IJO operatives on all counts, and in December 2019, he was sentenced principally to a prison term of 40 years.
SAAB joined Hizballah in 1996. SAAB’s first Hizballah operations occurred in Lebanon, where he was tasked with observing and reporting on the movements of Israeli and Southern Lebanese Army soldiers in Yaroun, Lebanon. Among other things, SAAB reported on patrol schedules and formations, procedures at security checkpoints, and the vehicles used by soldiers. SAAB also, alongside his brother, planted an improvised explosive device that detonated and hit Israeli soldiers, seriously injuring at least one.
In approximately 1999, SAAB attended his first Hizballah training. The training was focused on the use of firearms, and SAAB handled and fired an AK-47, an M16 rifle, and a pistol, and threw grenades. In 2000, SAAB transitioned to membership in Hizballah’s unit responsible for external operations, the IJO, and he then received extensive training in IJO tradecraft, weapons, and military tactics, including how to construct and detonate bombs and other explosive devices and how to best use these devices in attacks. Specifically, SAAB received detailed instruction in, among other things, triggering mechanisms, explosive substances, detonators, and the assembly of circuits.
In 2000, SAAB entered the United States. While living in the United States, SAAB remained an IJO operative, continued to receive military training in Lebanon, and conducted numerous operations for the IJO. For example, SAAB surveilled dozens of locations in New York City—including the United Nations headquarters, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and local airports, tunnels, and bridges—and provided detailed information on these locations, including photographs, to the IJO. In particular, SAAB focused on the structural weaknesses of locations he surveilled in order to determine how a future attack could cause the most destruction. SAAB’s reporting to the IJO included the materials used to construct a particular target, how close in proximity one could get to a target, and site weaknesses or “soft spots” that the IJO could exploit if it attacked a target in the future. SAAB conducted similar intelligence gathering in a variety of large American cities, including Boston and Washington, D.C. SAAB also was tasked by Hizballah with opening a front company that he could use to obtain fertilizer in the United States for use as an explosives precursor.
In addition to his attack-planning activities in the United States, SAAB conducted operations abroad. For example, in or about 2003, SAAB attempted to murder a man he later understood to be a suspected Israeli spy. SAAB pointed a firearm at the individual at close range and pulled the trigger twice, but the firearm did not fire. SAAB also conducted surveillance in Istanbul, Turkey, and elsewhere.
Finally, in or about 2012, SAAB entered into a fraudulent marriage in exchange for $20,000. The purpose of the marriage was for SAAB’s purported wife to apply for her citizenship. SAAB later falsely affirmed, under penalty of perjury, and in connection with his purported wife’s efforts to obtain status in the United States, that the marriage was not for any immigration-related purposes.
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SAAB, 44, of Morristown, New Jersey, was convicted of one count of receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a potential sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. SAAB was also acquitted of one count of conspiracy to provide material support to Hizballah, one count of citizenship application fraud, and one count of naturalization fraud.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the defendant’s sentence will be determined by Judge Gardephe.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and detectives from the New York City Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg, Jessica Fender, and Jason A. Richman are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Alexandra Hughes of the Counterterrorism Section.
Naugatuck Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ADAM MINES, 38, of Naugatuck, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 33 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2020, the DEA New Haven Task Force and Waterbury Police Department began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large amounts of heroin, cocaine and crack in the Waterbury area, and was believed to be headed by Zachary Lee Foster. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones used by members of the organization, physical surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics, and motor vehicle stops that resulted in the seizure of drugs. The investigation revealed that Foster was working closely with Jason Metz, of Naugatuck, to distribute narcotics. Between November 2020 and January 2021, Mines was intercepted multiple times on a wiretap ordering distribution quantities of heroin from Metz. Mines then sold the drugs to his own customers.
On March 1, 2021, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Mines, Foster, Metz and 14 others. On December 10, 2021, Mines pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.
Mines has been detained since his arrest on March 3, 2021. On that date, law enforcement executed seven search warrants and seized approximately 40,000 bags of suspected heroin, 350 grams of cocaine and 50 grams of crack cocaine, and nine firearms
Metz and Foster have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick F. Caruso and Brendan Keefe through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Waterbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
National Police Week 2022Read the Press Release
HAMMOND— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson salutes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“It is my solemn duty to honor all law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to protect others. These selfless acts deserve the upmost respect and honor. On behalf of my Office, I want to say to all law enforcement officers, we are grateful for the good work that you perform each day.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Three officers from the Northern District of Indiana will be added this year with nine total throughout the State of Indiana.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program
Maryland woman sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA –Jackie Devon Thompson, of North Frederick, Maryland, was sentenced today to 47 months of incarceration for a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Thompson, 42, pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine Base, and Cocaine Hydrochloride.” Thompson admitted to working with others to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine hydrochloride from August 2020 to June 2021 in Berkeley County and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Timothy D. Helman prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Martinsburg woman sentenced for role in drug trafficking enterpriseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Bonnie Lou Breeden, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 30 months of incarceration for her role in a drug distribution enterprise, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Breeden, 53, pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine Base, and Cocaine Hydrochloride.” Breeden admitted to working with others in a drug distribution operation in Berkeley County and elsewhere from June 2019 to October 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
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.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Find the related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/22-people-indicted-drug-trafficking-enterprise-spanned-several-states
Martinsburg man sentenced for role in drug trafficking enterpriseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kevin Gene Barron, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 46 months of incarceration for his role in a drug distribution enterprise, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Barron, 46, pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine Base, and Cocaine Hydrochloride.” Barron admitted to working with others in a drug distribution operation in Berkeley County and elsewhere from June 2019 to October 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
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.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Find the related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/22-people-indicted-drug-trafficking-enterprise-spanned-several-states
Manhattan Gang Member Convicted of 2014 Murder of Orlando RiveraRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the conviction of CHRISTIAN PABON, a/k/a “Banga,” of racketeering conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering. A unanimous jury convicted PABON of every count presented to the jury after a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, Christian Pabon terrorized his northern Manhattan neighborhood as a shooter in a violent street gang. The jury’s verdict holds him accountable for his senseless violence, which injured two young people and ripped a father away from his family. My office remains committed to combatting gang violence and seeking justice for victims.”
According to the Indictment and the evidence at trial:
PABON was a member of a street gang known as the “200.” The 200 was based in the neighborhood around Dyckman Street in northern Manhattan. Between 2014 and 2018, the 200’s members and associates engaged in armed robberies, shootings, pharmacy burglaries, assaults, and the distribution of heroin, crack, and other drugs. PABON was one of the gang’s “shooters,” meaning that the gang called upon him to provide guns and commit violence against rivals.
On October 2, 2014, PABON and other members of the 200 drove to their rival gang’s territory in the vicinity of 193rd Street in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, intending to shoot at members of the enemy gang. After driving to the area, PABON and three other members of the 200 approached the intersection of 193rd and Saint Nicholas Avenue on foot. Upon reaching the intersection, PABON and Marcos Espinal, a/k/a “Ito,” who was also a member of the 200, fired at least 15 shots at a group of people standing in front of a bodega. PABON and Espinal hit three people with their gunshots. Two of the victims—a 17-year old girl and a 20-year old man—survived their injuries. The third victim was Orlando Rivera, a 42-year old father and innocent bystander who was standing in front of the bodega. Rivera was killed by a bullet to his back as he attempted to run away from the bullets that PABON and Espinal fired. Espinal was previously prosecuted for his participation in this crime by the New York County District Attorney’s Office.
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PABON, age 29, of Manhattan, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New York City Police Department.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rushmi Bhaskaran, Elizabeth A. Espinosa, and Adam S. Hobson are in charge of the prosecution and represented the Government at trial. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie Bagliebter, Maurene Comey, Margaret Graham, and Hagan Scotten also participated in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
Man convicted for smuggling nearly 80 and pregnant minor in trailerRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A federal jury in Laredo has convicted a 52-year-old legal permanent resident of North Carolina for alien smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The jury deliberated for approximately four hours before convicting Aurelio Barajas-Pulido following a one-day trial.
During that trial, the jury heard that on Feb. 8, Barajas-Pulido attempted to drive a tractor trailer through the Interstate Highway 35 checkpoint in Laredo. At inspection, Barajas-Pulido demonstrated suspicious behavior. A K-9 also alerted authorities to the presence of concealed humans.
Law enforcement referred him for further inspection, after which they found a total of 80 undocumented citizens in the trailer including three unaccompanied minors, one of whom was pregnant. All were determined to be in the United States illegally.
At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that Barajas-Pulido did not have knowledge that he was smuggling undocumented persons. However, they heard testimony from material witnesses who described their journey from their home country to the tractor trailer Barajas-Pulido drove. Law enforcement also provided testimony about how his story was not logical.
The jury ultimately did not believe defense claims and found him guilty.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo presided over trial and will set sentencing for a future date. At that time, Barajas-Pulido faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
As a legal permanent resident, Barajas-Pulido could lose his status in the United States.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Isaac and Brandon Bowling are prosecuting the case.
Man Sentenced for Stealing from PayPal Accounts in Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Texas man was sentenced today to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his conduct in connection with a scheme to buy 38,000 compromised PayPal account credentials from an illegal online marketplace, and then use those credentials to steal money from the rightful PayPal account owners. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the defendant was ordered to pay $1.4 million in restitution.
Marcos Ponce, 37, of Austin, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in October 2021. According to court documents, from at least as early as November 2015 and continuing through in or about November 2018, Ponce and his co-conspirators worked together to establish buyer accounts on a particular illegal online marketplace (Marketplace A). Marketplace A functioned as an illegal market for stolen payment account credentials and associated personally identifying information (PII). The co-conspirators purchased over 38,000 stolen PayPal account login credentials.
In addition, Ponce and his co-conspirators developed social engineering techniques in order to trick unwitting third parties into accepting money transfers from the compromised PayPal accounts, and then transferring the money into accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy.
“The Justice Department remains firmly committed to protecting the American people from fraudsters like this defendant,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “May today’s sentencing send a clear message to would-be thieves: there are real-world consequences for online crimes.”
“This prosecution and sentence send a powerful message that the cyberworld is not a haven for criminals, and law enforcement will work tirelessly to bring cybercriminals to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff for the Western District of Texas.
“Today’s sentencing sends a message that the FBI will pursue cybercriminals across the globe. Hiding behind a computer does not mean you can stay anonymous or out of reach of law enforcement,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “With the assistance of FBI cyber task forces across the country, the FBI will diligently and aggressively work to identify and locate criminals, regardless of where they operate.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with significant assistance from the FBI San Antonio - Austin Cyber Task Force.
Senior Counsel Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Devlin for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case, with substantial assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Demian Ahn for the District of Columbia.
Man Charged with Using Stolen Identities of UCSD Students in Bank and Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Eric R. Olah (619) 546-7540
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 11, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Nehemiah Joel Weaver was indicted by a federal grand jury for using stolen personal information of University of California San Diego students in furtherance of bank and pandemic unemployment insurance fraud schemes.
Weaver is charged with 60 felony counts, including bank fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, extortion, and obstruction of justice.
Weaver’s co-defendant, Mia Nikole Bell, entered a guilty plea last week to one count of felony bank fraud. In her plea agreement, Bell admitted that when she was an employee at UCSD, she stole the personal identifiable information (“PII”) of at least eight students and shared it with the intent to facilitate a bank fraud scheme. Bell’s sentencing is set for August 15, 2022.
The indictment charges Weaver with using identities he obtained from Bell and other sources. Specifically, Weaver used stolen identities to apply for accounts and loans at a financial institution, to obtain more than $200,000 in benefit payments from the State of California’s Employment Development Department (“EDD”), and to defraud the State of Arizona’s Department of Economic Security (“DES”) out of more than $27,000.
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020, Congress provided new unemployment benefits for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic who would not otherwise qualify for unemployment insurance. The EDD administers unemployment insurance benefits in California, and DES does the same in Arizona.
Additionally, the indictment includes an extortion charge based on text messages Weaver sent to an acquaintance demanding money and threatening that a third person would be “charged with fraud.” The indictment also includes an obstruction of justice count based in part on Weaver sending to a victim a photograph of the victim’s minor daughter along with text messages reading “Lol so dead you don’t even know it yet” and “Can’t wait to see the look on your face. Paid good money to see it.”
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major ordered Weaver detained pending trial based on a serious risk of flight and danger to the community. The next court hearing is a Motion Hearing and Trial Setting before U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel on June 13, 2022.
If you think you are a victim of COVID-19 fraud, immediately report it the FBI (visit ic3.gov, tips.fbi.gov, or call 1-800-CALL-FBI or the San Diego FBI at 858-320-1800. In addition, the public is urged to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or by e-mailing the NCDF at disaster@leo.gov.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21-CR-2722-GPC
Nehemiah Joel Weaver Age: 36 San Diego, CA
Mia Nikole Bell Age: 31 Houston, TX
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bank Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1344(1)
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison, $1 million fine or twice the pecuniary gain/loss
Mail Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1341
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the pecuniary gain/loss
Mail Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the pecuniary gain/loss
Aggravated Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1028A
Penalty: Mandatory two years in prison
Extortion – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 875(d)
Maximum penalty: Two years in prison
Obstruction of Justice – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1503
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison; $250,000
Forfeiture – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(2), 982(b) and Title 28 U.S.C. Section 2461(c)
AGENCIES
United States Secret Service
San Diego Police Department
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Lynn Man Sentenced on Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing and selling firearms.
Jufrandy Montano, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 52 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Jan. 13, 2022, Montano pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Montano was indicted on Sept. 28, 2021.
Between March 4 and March 19, 2020, Montano sold three firearms, including a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun. Montano does not possess a license to import, manufacture or deal firearms and is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. At the time of the offenses, Montano was on probation for a conviction out of Lynn District Court.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted 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.
Logan County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan County man was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Brian Dometric Knox, 37, of Logan, admitted that he possessed the approximately 79 grams of methamphetamine found by law enforcement officers on January 26, 2021, while carrying out a search warrant at the Cross Lanes residence where Knox was living at the time. Knox admitted that he intended to sell that methamphetamine and also admitted to selling approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine weekly between December 1, 2020, and January 22, 2021.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the West Virginia State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the case.
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-170.
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Local man on federal supervised release sentenced to 13 years in prison for new drug, gun crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A local man previously convicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal narcotics crimes was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 156 months in prison for committing new narcotics and firearms crimes while on supervised release.
Larry K. Smith, 31, is also known as “Lil Larry” and “Big Larry.” He was sentenced in federal court for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Smith owns Larry’s Cleaning LLC and applied for CARES ACT aid for his business. During the same timeframe, Smith was observed on social media with high-end vehicles, jewelry, bags and stacks of money all while having no verified income.
Law enforcement surveillance revealed an increased amount of foot and vehicle traffic at Smith’s home in Columbus. Further surveillance revealed that Smith had another residence on Bay Ridge Drive in Lewis Center.
While executing simultaneous search warrants at Smith’s two residences, law enforcement officials discovered approximately 300 grams of fentanyl dispersed throughout the homes, including in Smith’s dog’s collar and in a Gucci bag hidden under the stairs. All told, Smith was found to have more than $50,000 in cash, including in a Louis Vuitton backpack and on his person, as well as a loaded firearm, marijuana and crack cocaine. The Government also seized a large diamond and gold Short North Posse medallion necklace from Smith.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Travis S. Riddle, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.
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Leader of Violent Rochester Drug Ring Sentenced to Life in Prison for Drug and Gun Charges, and MurderRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Carlos Javier Figueroa a/k/a Javi, a/k/a Big Bro, 44, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted following a federal jury trial of narcotics conspiracy, possession and discharge of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and murder while engaged in narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve life in prison plus 25 years by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Marangola, Cassie M. Kocher, and Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that Figueroa was the leader of a Rochester-based drug trafficking organization that was involved in the transportation and sale of cocaine in the City of Rochester and responsible for acts of violence in furtherance of the organization’s drug trade. These acts of violence included the September 12, 2016, shooting death of Walter Ross at the corner of Burbank Street and North Clinton Avenue. Figueroa provided the 9mm handgun that co-defendant Jonathan Cruz-Carmona used to murder Walter Ross. The gun was also used by co-defendant Obed Torres Garcia to shoot at police officers on Burbank Street when they attempted to raid Figueroa’s residence on January 29, 2018.
Various locations throughout Rochester were utilized to receive, store, and sell the supply of illegal narcotics. Figueroa coordinated shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico, which were sent to locations in Rochester via the United States Postal Service (USPS). Once the packages arrived in Rochester, the cocaine was broken down and packaged for sale. On January 29, 2018, during the execution of state search warrants, investigators seized more than $700,000 in cash, six assault rifles, three loaded handguns, over four kilograms of cocaine, and a quantity of suspected heroin and fentanyl.
A total of 12 defendants were charged and convicted in this case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Interim Chief David Smith; the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET), under the direction of Lieutenant Robert Hill; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood; and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Chief Patrol Agent Thomas G. Martin.
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Lame Deer man sentenced to two years for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lame Deer man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine was sentenced today to two years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Laymond Perry Brien, 38, pleaded guilty in December 2021 to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in October 2020, Bureau of Indian Affairs patrol officers responded to a tip of an intoxicated driver in a Saturn near Busby, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Officers initiated a traffic stop, but the car fled and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Lame Deer, with the car going 72 mph in a 25-mph zone. The car eventually got stuck on a muddy back road, and the driver and Brien, who was a passenger, attempted to flee on foot. Officers caught Brien, and in a search of him, found baggies of meth and a digital scale. Officers also found a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number under the passenger seat, where Brien had been sitting.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanne Torske prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the BIA.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Kinnear Woman Sentenced for False Statement of Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that BENITA LOUISE SMITH, 56, of Kinnear, Wyoming was sentenced for making a false statement relating to a sexual assault investigation before United States District Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal. Smith was sentenced to time-served with two years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee.
On October 26, 2020, law enforcement responded to a call for service on the Wind River Reservation. At the scene, officers learned that Benita Smith had an active arrest warrant. Smith was arrested and transported to the Wind River Detention Center. After arriving at the facility, Smith falsely claimed she was sexually assaulted by the arresting officer during transport to the facility. Dash camera footage from inside the patrol car refuted Smith’s claims, and she retracted her allegation after a formal investigation was launched.
“Actual victims of sexual assault never really stop suffering. They suffer physical pain during and after the assault. They must become stronger every day because they suffer emotionally every day. And when they bravely stand up and speak the truth, they still face devastating attacks on their credibility,” said United States Attorney Bob Murray. “A false accusation of sexual abuse is a despicable criminal act. It is a silent thief that steals so much from actual victims. This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work hard and do our part to ensure these crimes are punished.”
This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case.
Case No. 21-cr-00091-NDF
Justice Department Statement regarding Supreme Court SecurityRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today released the following statement from spokesman Anthony Coley:
“Attorney General Garland continues to be briefed on security matters related to the Supreme Court and Supreme Court Justices. The Attorney General directed the U.S. Marshals Service to help ensure the Justices’ safety by providing additional support to the Marshal of the Supreme Court and Supreme Court Police.”
Jury convicts local man of illegally possessing machine ‘ghost gun’Read the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal jury has convicted Jesse Carter, 31, of Cincinnati, with illegally possessing a machine gun and possessing a pistol and ammunition after previously being convicted of a felony.
The verdict was announced yesterday afternoon following a trial that began on May 2 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in March 2020, Carter illegally possessed a pistol, a machine gun and more than 400 rounds of ammunition.
The machine gun was an AR-style “ghost gun” with no markings. Ghost guns are often assembled from kits, do not contain serial numbers, and are sold without background checks, making them difficult to trace. In April, the Department of Justice announced a new rule modernizing the definition of firearms to make ghost gun kits subject to the same regulations as traditional firearms.
The Government presented at trial that Carter referred to the machine gun as “the big one” in jail calls in which he described the location of the ghost gun which had been concealed behind the sub-woofer in his car.
As a previously convicted felon, Carter is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. He faces up to 10 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Carter was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2020.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Travis S. Riddle, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced today’s verdict. Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa Taiwo and Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan W. Myers of the Cincinnati City Solicitor’s Office are representing the United States in this case.
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Jury convicts Louisiana man for smuggling 52 in trailerRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A federal jury in Laredo has convicted a 47-year-old for conspiring to transport and transporting undocumented aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The jury deliberated for over three hours before convicting Roderick DeWayne Chisley, of Monroe, Louisiana, following a three-day trial.
The jury heard that on Dec. 17, 2021, authorities stopped Chisley shortly after he passed through the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint on I-35.
Authorities discovered the tractor trailer he was driving was stolen. Upon further inspection, law enforcement found 52 undocumented individuals in the trailer. They were later determined to be illegally present in the country.
Chisley admitted he was going to be paid $50,000 to transport the tractor trailer from Laredo to San Antonio.
At trial, law enforcement testimony explained the laws governing the commercial trucking industry and about standard practices of truck drivers.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that Chisley had no knowledge of the 52 aliens in his trailer.
However, the jury heard additional testimony from two of the undocumented aliens. They described how the vehicle began moving almost immediately after they entered the trailer. It did not stop until they reached the checkpoint.
The jury did not believe the defense story and found Chisley guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña presided over trial and will set sentencing at a future date. At that time, Chisley faces up to 10 years of imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Chisley will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Fawcett and Aaron Petters are prosecuting the case.
Jury Finds Ocala Convicted Felon Guilty of Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Nathanael Santiago (29, Ocala) guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. Santiago faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Santiago had been indicted on July 21, 2021.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office encountered Santiago behind the driver’s seat of an idling vehicle in Marion Oaks. Deputies approached Santiago and saw a marijuana “blunt” in the ashtray, which Santiago admitted to smoking. When Santiago stepped out of the vehicle, deputies discovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol partially concealed under his right leg. Santiago had previously been convicted of three felony offenses and never had his civil rights restored by executive clemency.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William S. Hamilton and Hannah Nowalk.
Jury Convicts Kansas City Man of Stealing and Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man was convicted by a federal trial jury today of stealing and illegally possessing a firearm.
Larry D. Bradley, 53, was found guilty of four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, stealing a firearm, possessing a stolen firearm, and receiving a firearm while under indictment for a felony. Bradley has been in federal custody since his arrest on July 9, 2021.
On March 20, 2020, officers with the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department were dispatched to a residence on a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers located the victim who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound on the floor of the residence. Officers learned that Bradley had discharged the firearm and fled from the residence with the firearm. With the assistance of a canine, they were able to find Bradley hiding inside a trailer. Bradley no longer had the firearm, so officers asked him where the firearm was located. Bradley led the officers to a tire where he had hidden the firearm. Bradley later admitted that he had taken the firearm from the victim a couple days before the shooting.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm. Bradley has prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery. It is also illegal for anyone who is under indictment for a felony to receive a firearm. At the time he stole the firearm, he was under indictment for the felony possession of methamphetamine.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., returned the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, ending a trial that began on May 9, 2022.
Under federal statutes, Bradley is subject to a sentence of up to 35 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Jefferson County man sentenced for failing to registerRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Patrick Allen Darlington, of Charles Town, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day of incarceration for a failure to register charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Darlington, 43, pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of “Failure to Register.” Darlington, a person required to register as a sex offender because of a prior conviction, has admitted to traveling across state lines without updating his sex offender registration from August 2020 to March 2021 in Jefferson County and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor F. Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Jason M. Frierson Sworn in as United States Attorney for the District of NevadaRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Jason M. Frierson was sworn in today as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada. Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du administered the oath of office at the Lloyd D. George U.S. Courthouse, attended by judicial officers, agency partners, and Mr. Frierson’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Mr. Frierson is the first African American to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada. He was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on November 15, 2021, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 27, 2022.
“I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve as our district’s U.S. Attorney,” said Mr. Frierson. “I’m also grateful for my family’s support throughout the nomination and confirmation process. Throughout my career, keeping our communities safe has been a top priority. I look forward to fulfilling the Department of Justice’s mission alongside our dedicated, talented Assistant U.S. Attorneys, staff professionals, and law enforcement and community partners. We share a steadfast commitment to upholding the rule of law, preventing violent crime in our neighborhoods, protecting the civil rights of citizens, and seeking justice for victims.”
As the District of Nevada’s chief federal law enforcement officer, Mr. Frierson will lead a team of over 100 prosecutors and staff professionals with offices located in Las Vegas and Reno.
Prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Frierson most recently served as both the Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly and an Assistant Public Defender in the Clark County Public Defender’s Office. From 2012 to 2014 and from 2017 to 2019, he served as a Chief Deputy District Attorney in the Clark County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Frierson was a partner at Surratt Law Practice in Las Vegas from 2014 to 2017.
Mr. Frierson earned his J.D. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law in 2001, and his B.S. from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1996. After graduating from law school, Mr. Frierson served as a law clerk for Justice Myron E. Leavitt on the Supreme Court of Nevada from 2001 to 2002.
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Jamaican Nationals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Their Roles in Lottery Scam Targeting Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — Four Jamaican nationals who resided in Myrtle Beach have been sentenced for their roles in a bogus lottery scam that targeted elderly victims around the country. Specifically, Fabian Gray, a/k/a “Mike Taylor,” 30, and Romaine Gordon, 30, were each sentenced to more than five years in federal prison; Avia Reid, 30, was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison; and Khalelah Powell, 20, was sentenced to more than two years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began this case with an investigation into individuals in the Myrtle Beach area who were operating a lottery telemarketing scam with domestic and international connections. According to evidence presented to the Court, as part of the scam, the Defendants would contact elderly victims via phone and mail, and falsely inform the victims they had won a sweepstakes. The supposed prizes in these sweepstakes usually consisted of millions of dollars, a new vehicle, or other valuable items. The Defendants told the victims they had to pay taxes and fees in order to receive their winnings.
Victims throughout the case mailed the Defendants prepaid cards, Postal Service money orders, bank money orders, cash, and personal checks to pay the phony taxes and fees. Victims also made deposits into the Defendants’ bank accounts and sent wire transfers to the Defendants. The Defendants received more than $300,000 from their targets. The funds were ultimately withdrawn by, or transferred to, co-conspirators in Jamaica, and the Defendants retained a 25% cut of the scamming proceeds. At least 67 victims, who were mostly elderly, suffered a loss as part of the scheme. Twenty-five of those victims were more than 80 years old, and several victims were targeted multiple times.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gray to 63 months, Gordon to 63 months, Reid to 51 months, and Powell to 33 months. The Defendants were each sentenced to three years of court-ordered supervision to follow their federal prison sentences in the event they are not deported upon release. There is no parole in the federal system. The Defendants were also ordered to pay $349,433.75 in restitution to their victims.
This case was investigated by HSI and USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek A. Shoemake prosecuted the case.
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Indictment Charges Two with Violating Federal Drug LawsRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - Two former residents of Erie, Pennsylvania have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The four-count Superseding Indictment named Jose Anibal Martinez, Jr., 34 and David Michael Sullivan, 43, as defendants.
According to the Superseding Indictment presented to the court, on or about November 5, 2021, Martinez and Sullivan conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than fifty grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. In addition, on or about July 16, 2021, Martinez possessed with intent to distribute and distributed more than fifty grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. On March 16, 2022, Martinez possessed with intent to distribute more than forty grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and more than one hundred grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 120 years in prison, a fine of $15,000,000, or both for Martinez and a maximum total sentence of 80 years in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both for Sullivan. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement (EAGLE) task force, which is comprised of members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Erie Bureau of Police, the Oil City Police Department, the Franklin Police Department, and the Titusville Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case.
A Superseding Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Hudson County Felon Convicted of Possessing Three Firearms and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A federal jury has convicted a Hudson County, New Jersey, man of possessing three firearms and ammunition and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Justin A. Rodriguez, 29, of West New York, was convicted following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler on one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
On July 2, 2020, while conducting surveillance, law enforcement observed an unknown individual place what appeared to be a handgun into Rodriguez’s vehicle. A search of Rodriguez’s vehicle pursuant to a search warrant yielded one 9-millimeter handgun loaded with nine rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition; one .45-caliber handgun loaded with eight rounds of .45-caliber ammunition; one .38-caliber revolver; one clear plastic bag containing cocaine; and four bags containing marijuana.
The firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The cocaine trafficking charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled for
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited members of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura: deputy marshals with the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of New Jersey, under the supervision of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; and special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, with the investigation leading to the conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah A. Sulkowski and Benjamin Levin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Honduran Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years in U.S. PrisonRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A federal district judge in South Florida has sentenced Honduran national Fredy Donaldo Marmol Vallejo, 40, to 240 months in prison for his role in an international drug trafficking conspiracy.
In October 2021, Marmol was extradited from Honduras to the United States to face charges in the Southern District of Florida. On January 27, Marmol pled guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine with the intent to import it into the United States.
U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of FBI Miami, and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Office announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks.
FBI Miami and DEA Miami investigated this case, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, Miami. U.S. Attorney Gonzalez extends his gratitude to the government of Honduras for its assistance with this matter, as well as the Agencia Técnica de Investigación Criminal (ATIC). He also recognizes the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, which provided substantial assistance in securing Marmol’s arrest and extradition.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Hernandez and Walter Norkin are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster is handling asset forfeiture.
This prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations that threaten the citizens of the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach to combat transnational organized crime. The OCDETF program facilitates complex, joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence across multiple investigative platforms.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20277.
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Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KENDALL HOOKS, 50, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service into individuals who were receiving shipments of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico and California, and distributing the drug in and around Hartford. The investigation revealed that Pedro Rivera arranged to have a cocaine source in Puerto Rico send parcels containing kilograms of cocaine to addresses in Hartford. When the cocaine parcels arrived, Jesus Rodriguez, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier, delivered the cocaine to Rivera. Rodriguez also distributed cocaine to his own drug customers, including Hooks, in the Hartford area. Hooks also facilitated cocaine transactions between Rodriguez and other narcotics traffickers.
On June 4, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Hooks, Rivera, Rodriguez and 16 others with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses. Hooks was detained in state custody when the indictment was returned.
On August 20, 2021, Hooks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Rivera and Rodriguez also pleaded guilty. On April 13, 2022, Rivera was sentenced to 100 months of imprisonment. Rodriguez awaits sentencing.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Hardy County man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Jason Lamela Rodriguez, of Moorefield, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Rodriguez, 33, pleaded guilty today to today on one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine-Aiding and Abetting.” Rodriguez admitted to having cocaine in August 2021 in Hardy County.
Rodriguez faces at up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen. D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Grants man accused of sending threats to FBI agentRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Matthew James Cerno, 48, of Grants, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court today facing a charge of making threats of violence against a federal law enforcement officer. Cerno will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 13.
According to a criminal complaint, on Feb. 23, 2018, Cerno was interviewed by law enforcement officers from the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, as Cerno claimed to have information regarding the West Mesa murders. In early October 2021, Cerno contacted the FBI Albuquerque Field Office by telephone to follow up regarding his prior report and was again interviewed regarding that report.
On Nov. 20, 2021, Cerno once again contacted the FBI Albuquerque Field Office to provide additional information regarding the West Mesa Murders. An agent contacted Cerno from an FBI issued cellphone. Cerno provided statements that were similar to those in his prior interviews. Over the following two-month period, Cerno allegedly made multiple calls to the agent’s cellphone. Each time the Agent directed Cerno to contact the FBI call center rather than contacting the agent directly.
Beginning on Jan. 28, Cerno allegedly left four messages on the agent's voicemail threatening that he would drug, rape, and direct the beating of the agent, and that the agent’s FBI badge would not save him.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Cerno faces up to five years in prison.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Tavo Hall is prosecuting the case.
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Grand Rapids Men Sentenced for Shooting at A Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced today that U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou sentenced Jaquari Trotter, age 21, and Gregory Rogers, age 22, both of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to 60 and 57 months, respectively, for shooting at a member of the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Rogers also faced sentencing for separate offenses involving illegal firearm possession and drug trafficking. Judge Jarbou imposed a total combined sentence for Rogers of 177 months in prison.
On February 4, 2020, Trotter and Rogers were outside a residence on Sherman Street SE in Grand Rapids when a member of the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force drove by in an unmarked SUV. When the agent drove by a second time, Trotter and Rogers pulled out in front of the unmarked SUV and sped around a neighboring corner. Trotter had Rogers pull over sharply to the right side of the road and jumped out of the passenger door. Trotter then pulled a loaded 9mm handgun from his waistband and fired 11 shots at the agent’s vehicle before jumping back into the getaway car and speeding away with Rogers. The bullets Trotter fired pierced the agent’s SUV from the front bumper all the way to the rear door panel and also struck a nearby house. Trotter and Rogers each pled guilty to this offense in January 2022 shortly before they were scheduled for trial.
In sentencing Trotter and Rogers, Judge Jarbou emphasized the extremely serious nature of the men’s crimes. She noted that Trotter shot at the agent 11 times in the middle of a residential neighborhood, putting not only the agent’s life in jeopardy but also the lives of innocent civilians. She also focused on both men’s criminal histories and gang affiliations, remarking that, if released today, Trotter and Rogers would likely continue committing crimes.
“This shooting could have cost a law enforcement officer his life,” declared U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Trotter and Rogers acted without regard for the lethal results their actions could cause. These sentences reflect the violent and serious nature of the crimes committed and are an important step in ensuring the safety of our community.”
Kent County District Attorney Chris Becker echoed Totten’s sentiments, remarking that his office is “happy to work hand in hand with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring justice to the victim” of the shooting.
“The use of violence against one law enforcement officer carrying out his sworn duty is an offense against every officer who works selflessly to keep our communities safe,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “When violent perpetrators target those whose duty it is to protect and serve, every resource of the FBI will be used to ensure they are brought to justice.”
“The U.S. Marshals Service is appreciative of the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all the investigators involved in this case,” declared Joseph Guzman, Acting Chief Deputy of the U.S. Marshals Service. “This was a serious attack against one of our Officers and we are thankful these individuals have been held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grand Rapids Police Department, with important additional assistance provided by the United States Marshals Service and the Michigan State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Carowan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Lachman, who also serves as a Deputy Prosecutor in Kent County.
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Georgia Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Yakima Non-ProfitRead the Press Release
Yakima – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Kentey Ramone Fielder, age 42, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced today in federal court in Yakima, Washington. Chief Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Fielder to 40 months in federal prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Chief Judge Bastian also ordered that Fielder pay restitution of $14,220.17.
In December 2021, Fielder pled guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a fraudulent scheme that he perpetrated concerning a contract with the United States Army’s Yakima Training Center (YTC), which is used by the Army for maneuver training, Land Warrior system testing and as a live fire exercise area. According to court documents, in 2015, Fielder obtained a contract to perform janitorial services at the YTC in the name of his company, Clean Contracting Services, (CCSI). Because Fielder had been disqualified from federal contracting in 2014, neither he nor CCSI were eligible to receive any federal contracts. Fielder obtained the YTC contract by misrepresenting that he was not affiliated with CCSI.
After obtaining the YTC contract, Fielder contacted Yakima Specialties, a Yakima-based nonprofit that employs individuals with disabilities to perform janitorial and other services at federal facilities, according to court documents. Fielder posed as a government contracting official and told Yakima Specialties that it had received the YTC contract. Posing as a government official, Fielder sent Yakima Specialties a fake YTC contract to perform the work, and included the name and signature of a real government contracting official that Fielder stole from a different contract. Believing it had been awarded the contract, Yakima Specialties performed the work, but was unable to obtain payment because it did not have the real YTC contract. Fielder then billed for and received payment for the work under CCSI.
According to court documents, the YTC contract was one of many contracts that CCSI and Fielder received using the fraudulent scheme described above. In July 2020, Fielder was indicted in the Eastern District of Washington for the fraud on the YTC contract. While Fielder was initially released from custody pending trial, in May 2021, he was subsequently ordered detained by the court for perpetrating a similar scheme in Georgia while on pretrial release, and will remain in custody until his sentence is served.
“Mr. Fielder’s fraud was as brazen as it was widespread, involving dozens of government contracts around the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Through our investigation and prosecution here in the Eastern District of Washington, we were able to hold Mr. Fielder accountable and to protect the public from his fraud, which not only stole from public funds, but harmed non-profit entities such as Yakima Specialties, which exists to employ individuals with disabilities and to perform vital services for the public. Fraud devastates our community’s critical resources. My office will continue to work proactively with our law enforcement partners to stop fraudulent schemes, and I commend the exceptional investigative work and collaboration by this talented and hardworking team of case agents.”
“This sentencing is the result of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s commitment to ensuring that Department of Defense programs and missions are protected from fraudulent actions throughout the procurement process,” stated Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. “Individuals who shamelessly violate the integrity of the defense contracting system for their own personal gain will be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice.”
“We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to uncover such deceitful schemes involving federal contracts,” said Special Agent in Charge Terry Pfeifer of the GSA Office of Inspector General.
“Today’s sentencing should serve as a stark reminder that our agents, and those of our partner law enforcement agencies, are unrelenting in their pursuit of those who choose to victimize government contractors through deceit and defrauding the US Army and its Soldiers of full, open, and secure competition within its procurement efforts,” said Special Agent in Charge L. Scott Moreland, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office, US Army Criminal Investigation Division.
The settlement was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division; the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General; the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General; the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General; the Department of State Office of Inspector General; the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General; and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.
Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene of the Eastern District of Washington handled this matter on behalf of the United States.
Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Key Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization Operating in Kanawha CountyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Georgia man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute 500 or more grams of methamphetamine as part of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Kanawha County.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2020 until at least September 28, 2021, Ramon David Alston, 42, of Decatur, Georgia, sold 1-pound and multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine from his Georgia residence to individuals including co-defendants from Charleston, West Virginia, as part of the DTO. Alston admitted that he knew these customers intended to distribute methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia.
Alston further admitted that two of his West Virginia customers visited his residence separately on July 19, 2021, and that he sold one of them a kilogram of methamphetamine. That customer was later stopped by police and arrested after being found in possession of the methamphetamine. Alston admitted to learning of the arrest, and of knowing that the other customer had purchased approximately 6 pounds of methamphetamine from him over the course of the DTO conspiracy.
Alston is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2022, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, as well as at least five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshals Service, the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
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-172.
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Gainesville Man Sentenced to 292 Months in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA –Travonta Deangelo Rivers, 34, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison following his conviction on two counts of receipt of child pornography. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentenced.
Rivers was convicted by a federal jury in July 2021. Evidence introduced at trial revealed that a search warrant at Rivers’ residence in May 2020, resulted in the seizure of computers which Rivers used to receive and share numerous videos of child pornography. Rivers was located and arrested in December 2020, and again found in possession of a computer which he had used to receive and share child pornography.
“This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who prey upon our children.”
“Crimes against children will always be a primary focus for HSI and our law enforcement partners,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. "Law enforcement partnerships, such as with the Gainesville Police Department, and targeted predator operations will continue to make our communities safer for everyone."
Rivers’ prison sentence will be followed by 20 years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to sex offender conditions.
“We will continue to work together to keep our children safe from victimization,” said Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr. “We’ve been effective in our collaboration and will continue to be. We are better together.”
This conviction was a result from the collaborative investigation of Homeland Security Investigations, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office as part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Frank Williams prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Gillette Felon Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that PRESTON RAY WISENBAKER, age 31, of Gillette, Wyoming was sentenced for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime on April 21, 2021, in front of Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson. Wisenbaker was ordered to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release and to pay a $100 special assessment.
In June 2021, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation learned that Wisenbaker was distributing controlled substances in the Gillette, Wyoming area. In the investigation of Wisenbaker, DCI agents learned Wisenbaker was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms. On June 3, 2021, agents obtained a search warrant for Wisenbaker’s residence in Gillette and discovered several firearms and large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
This crime was investigated by the Gillette Police Department, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
Case Number 0:21-cr-00085-ABJ
Former United States Golf Association Employee Sentenced to over One Year in Prison for Embezzling more $3.3 Million Worth of U.S. Open TicketsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Robert Fryer, 40, of Perkasie, PA, was sentenced today to 14 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $3,364,622 in restitution to the USGA and forfeit the $1,150,000 in profits he amassed by United States District Judge Michael M. Baylson for participating in a conspiracy to steal and sell more than $3.3 million worth of U.S. Open Golf tournament tickets from Fryer’s former employer, the United States Golf Association (“USGA”).
In October 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and admitted that he sold the tickets for roughly $1.2 million to two different Philadelphia-area ticket brokers, Jeremi Michael Conaway, 46, of West Chester, PA (who owns and operates Eagle Eye Ticketing Management) and James Bell, 70, of Glen Mills, PA (who owns and operates Sherry’s Theater Ticket Agency), both of whom were previously sentenced to prison for their roles in the conspiracy.
Beginning in 2013 in connection with the U.S. Open held at the Merion Golf Club, while working for the USGA in their admissions office, Fryer realized that he could exploit a weakness in the USGA’s ticket tracking protocol and steal tickets to the U.S. Open without the knowledge of the USGA. Rather than notify his employer of this flaw, Fryer admitted that he stole thousands of U.S. Open tickets in connection with the U.S. Open at Merion and arranged to sell the stolen tickets to Conaway, who at the time worked for another ticket brokerage in the area. Fryer continued to steal and sell tickets to Conaway for every subsequent U.S. Open through 2019, and he would have stolen tickets to the 2020 U.S. Open except it was held without fans that year due to the pandemic. Further, in connection with the 2017 U.S. Open, the defendant also sold stolen U.S. Open tickets to Bell, who operated another local area ticket brokerage. All told, Fryer admitted to stealing more than $3 million worth of U.S. Open tickets and selling them for approximately $1.2 million to his two co-conspirators, who themselves sold the tickets for a profit.
“This defendant stole revenue from an American institution and legitimate business that pays taxes, employs many, supports a non-profit organization, and brings excitement and income to our district with U.S. Open events at courses like the Merion Golf Club,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Criminals that conduct ticket schemes like this prey on the excitement surrounding big events; fans should remember that any item with a low price that seems ‘too good to be true’ should be cause for caution and concern.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael S. Lowe.
Former South Burlington Resident Sentenced to 20 Years for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated Cory Johnson, formerly of South Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Court Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to 20 years of imprisonment with 15 years of supervised release to follow for producing child sexual abuse materials, also known as child pornography. Johnson previously pleaded guilty to a single count of child pornography production, admitting that, in or about September 2016, he video recorded sexually explicit content involving a minor. At sentencing, the government sought a 30-year sentence, the maximum allowed by law, for Johnson’s videotaped abuse of a toddler.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest stated, “The conviction in this case is the product of years of tireless and dedicated work by the prosecutors and their agent partners. Our office will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse by investigating and prosecuting those who victimize the most vulnerable.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, for the agency’s work on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugenia A. P. Cowles and Jonathan A. Ophardt represented the government. Frank Twarog, Esq. represented Johnson.
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 Child Exploitation Obscenity Section, Criminal Division (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.
Former Scott County Coroner Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The former Scott County Coroner, John Goble, 68, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to conspiracy to commit theft of weapons and ammunition belonging to Kentucky State Police.
According to Goble’s plea agreement, from 2014-2018, Goble agreed with Mike Crawford to store ammunition belonging to Kentucky State Police, in the basement of his office. This ammunition was misappropriated by the KSP armorer, Mitch Harris, and then given to Crawford and Goble. Over the total conspiracy, the total value of the misappropriated ammunition had a value of approximately $40,000.
Goble was indicted in April 2022.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ken Taylor and Kate Smith.
Goble is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2022. He faces up five years in prison and a maximum of a $250,000 fine. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
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Former Labor Union Secretary-Treasurer Pleads Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – An Emporia man pleaded guilty today to embezzlement and theft of labor union assets.
According to court documents, from April 2013 through April 2019, Anthony Jordan, 55, worked as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Division 26. Throughout the scheme, Jordan used his position and employment at Division 26 in order to steal money at the expense of the labor union. While serving as Division 26’s Secretary-Treasurer, a salaried position, Jordan embezzled funds from the union by writing unauthorized checks to himself from Division 26’s checking account, and by making unauthorized direct debits, ATM withdrawals, and cash back transactions from Division 26’s checking account.
In total, Jordan embezzled $30,519.76 from the union. He used the union’s funds to pay for personal expenses, such as for veterinary services, utilities, cell phone service, internet and cable, groceries, personal tax returns, convenience store transactions, and more.
Jordan is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and potential financial penalties. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea.
The Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management, investigated this case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-049.
Former DEA Supervisory Agent Sentenced to 135 Months in Prison for Accepting Bribes from Drug KingpinRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent was sentenced today for accepting bribes from a drug trafficker. Nathan Koen, 45, now of Auburn, Illinois, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
Koen was charged by a federal grand jury in November 2019 with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and one count of bribery of a public official. In August 2021, he pleaded guilty to bribery in exchange for dismissal of the drug-related charge.
During the sentencing hearing, which took place over two days and concluded today, Judge Miller found that Koen accepted bribes from a known, large-scale drug trafficker for the purpose of helping facilitate a drug conspiracy, and that the conspiracy involved at least 15 to 45 kilograms of methamphetamine. The drug trafficker testified during the hearing and explained that he believed Koen provided was providing sensitive, law-enforcement information, which helped the trafficker avoid detection by law enforcement and run his drug organization. The drug trafficker, who is in federal custody, stated that his organization was responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of methamphetamine cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana.
“This defendant’s actions are a disgrace to the thousands of dedicated law enforcement officers who work with integrity every day to protect and serve our communities,” stated United States Attorney Jonathan D. Ross. “His greed and deception have no place in law enforcement, and we are pleased to see this case come to its rightful conclusion.”
In 2018, the FBI began investigating Koen, who had been working for DEA since 2002 and had transferred in 2016 to work as a Group Supervisor in the Little Rock DEA office from Jacksonville, Florida. FBI agents interviewed the drug trafficker who told law enforcement he had paid Koen cash for information and protection related to his drug-trafficking activities.
The drug trafficker told FBI agents he had been in custody on federal drug charges in 2013-2014 when another inmate told him he should contact Koen and offer to work as an informant, which he did. After his case was resolved, the informant resumed distributing large amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine in Florida, California, Arkansas, and elsewhere, while making payments to Koen for protection. The informant paid approximately $31,500 to Koen before he began cooperating with the FBI.
The informant began working with FBI, and he agreed to set up a controlled delivery of a bribe payment to Koen. Koen and the informant agreed to meet in Las Vegas on December 3, 2018. FBI agents equipped the informant with $9,000 cash and multiple audio recording devices. Koen and the informant met on the sidewalk across from the Bellagio hotel and walked together to the Paris Las Vegas hotel, where they went inside a bathroom away from casino cameras. Once inside, the informant placed the cash in Koen’s backpack, and they left the hotel, each going in different directions.
Recordings of the encounter revealed that Koen asked the informant, “Did you make this worth it?” The informant responded, “Come on, man, you know I always make it worth it for you.” Koen responded, “I know.” Koen also advised the informant that he should get rid of all his phones and change his address because he expected a search warrant to be executed at his home soon. Koen was arrested when he returned to Arkansas later that day, and he admitted to accepting bribes from the informant.
“By protecting a drug trafficking organization and accepting bribes from a drug kingpin, former Group Supervisor Nathan Koen deceived and betrayed his brothers and sisters in the DEA,” FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson said. “His disgraceful and corrupt conduct only strengthens our resolve to continue attacking corruption at all levels. We’re grateful for the strong, ongoing partnerships we share with both the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Attorney's Office.”
“Today’s sentencing reflects DEA’s commitment to hold accountable any DEA employee who abuses the trust of the American people by violating their oath as a federal law enforcement officer,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Nathan Koen put himself ahead of the principles he swore to protect. I commend our federal law enforcement partners who investigated this case and the U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted it.”
“Koen turned his back on his duty to protect the public. As a DEA Agent, Koen was tasked with investigating drug traffickers. Instead, he accepted a cash bribe and provided a known drug trafficker with sensitive law enforcement information. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to investigate those who engage in this kind of conduct,” said Cloey C. Pierce, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Dallas Field Office.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Miller also sentenced Koen to two years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benecia Moore and Chris Givens.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
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