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14 November 2024
Pueblo Man Convicted on Multiple Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that David Wayne Watkins, 45, of Pueblo, Colorado, was convicted by a federal jury on five counts including possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a weapon and ammunition, possession of a weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
According to the facts established at trial, Watkins was stopped by Pueblo Police in December of 2023 for a forged temporary license plate tag. During the stop, Watkins briefly ran from officers before his arrest. During his arrest, police recovered a loaded handgun from his waistband and a bag and wallet together containing $52,000 in cash, 378 fentanyl pills, and 25 grams of pure methamphetamine. When officers searched his car, they found one additional handgun, numerous firearm magazines and ammunition, clear baggies, and a bag with an additional 375 fentanyl pills. A search of his hotel room resulted in the recovery of a short-barreled rifle and additional ammunition.
“Violent drug dealers have no place in our communities, and we are proud of the team effort that was involved in getting this repeat offender off the street,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch.
“This felon was responsible for bringing weapons and drugs into the Pueblo community, and neighborhoods are safer with him behind bars,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “FBI Denver leans on successful partnerships with Pueblo Police Department, Denver Police Department, ATF, DEA and USAO to support our common goals. We will continue our steadfast support and commitment to the Pueblo Community.”
“This conviction is testament to the hard work and perseverance of the Pueblo Police Department’s Investigations Division, and more specifically the gang and narcotics unit,” said Pueblo Police Department Chief of Police Chris Noeller. “I want to commend the US Attorney’s Office and the jury for helping to ensure Mr. Watkins is held accountable for his actions and for working to keep this dangerous criminal off the streets of our community.”
United States District Court Judge S. Kato Crews presided over the trial. The Pueblo Police Department and the FBI Denver Field Office handled the investigation. The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado handled the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.Case Number: 1:24-cr-00058-SKC
Portfolio Manager of "A.I." Investment Fund Arrested for Stealing Fund AssetsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Kanen Flowers with securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. He was arrested this morning in Tucson, Arizona and will be removed to the Eastern District of New York, at which time he will be arraigned on the indictment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the charges.
“Flowers is charged with shamelessly lying to investors to get their money and capitalizing on disruptions in the cryptocurrency market to hide the fact that he had pilfered investor funds for his own benefit,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Be it through crypto or traditional banking, my Office is committed to rooting out fraud and protecting our investing public.”
“As alleged, Kanen Flowers masqueraded the true composition of his fund to deceive and steal from his investors before diverting the misappropriated assets for personal use. The alleged scheme Flowers engaged in manipulated the good faith placed upon him to selfishly pocket substantial amounts of investments. The FBI will continue to dismantle all fraudulent conspiracies to ensure invested monies are duly managed,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.
As alleged in the indictment, from 2020 to 2023, Flowers was the Portfolio Manager of an “A.I.” fund that used “proprietary algorithms to actively trade long and short positions” (the “Fund”). He lied to investors and potential investors about the size of the Fund—claiming it was worth billions of dollars when it never had more than approximately $3.5 million in assets under management. He lied to investors and potential investors about the Fund’s diversification efforts—claiming it was trading in equal parts futures, equities and cryptocurrency, when just months after its formation it was trading more than 50% cryptocurrency and, later, entirely cryptocurrency. And he lied to investors about his alleged inability to liquidate the Fund when it ultimately shuttered—claiming cryptocurrency lenders and exchanges were capping withdrawals or had even confiscated Fund assets, when in fact Flowers had largely emptied the Fund’s accounts at those cryptocurrency lenders and exchanges months prior.
As further alleged in the indictment, Flowers stole Fund assets. Among other things, in October 2021, he used $70,000 worth of cryptocurrency from a Fund account to pay off a personal loan. Between December 2021 and January 2022, he transferred more than $200,000 worth of the Fund’s cryptocurrency to himself. And in January 2022, he caused the Fund to purchase a non-fungible token or NFT for over $100,000, which he then kept.
In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering, as charged here.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of securities fraud and wire fraud, Flowers faces a 20-year statutory maximum sentence. If convicted of money laundering, Flowers faces a 10-year statutory maximum sentence.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorney Tara McGrath is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Liam McNett.
The Defendant:
KANEN FLOWERS
Age: 54
Atlanta, GeorgiaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-458
2024.11.12_-_indictment_flowers_as_filed.pdfPhoenix Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Deadly Human Smuggling-Related Crash on the Tohono O'odham NationRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Kevin Rojo-Barron, 21, of Phoenix, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 144 months in prison stemming from a deadly crash last March on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Rojo-Barron pleaded guilty on July 18, 2024, to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death, and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death.
On March 2, 2023, near Why, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Tohono O’odham Police Department and United States Border Patrol responded to a 911 call of a vehicle collision at the intersection of State Route 86 and Federal Route 1. Rojo-Barron was driving the vehicle traveling northbound on Federal Route 1 at a high rate of speed and failed to yield at a stop sign, striking a vehicle traveling eastbound on State Route 86. All three Tohono O’odham Nation members in the other vehicle died as result of the crash. Further investigation showed that Rojo-Barron was smuggling four undocumented noncitizens and had an AR-15 style rifle in the vehicle at the time of the crash. One of the undocumented noncitizens died due to the crash and another was permanently injured.
Homeland Security Investigations-Sells, Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol, and the Tohono O’odham Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Y. Chamblee and Ryan P. DeJoe, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-1844-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-155_Rojo-Barron# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Phoenix Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine ViolationsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Mark Camacho, 25, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Second Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around August 2022 to in and around March 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Camacho conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Camacho was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Camacho. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Palo Alto Man Convicted of Drug Offense Near Emmetsburg High SchoolRead the Press Release
David Specketer, 57, from Emmetsburg, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court in Sioux City on November 14, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location. Specketer was previously convicted of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in 2013.
At the plea hearing, Specketer admitted that on April 15, 2024, while living in Emmetsburg, Iowa, law enforcement attempted to arrest him at his residence for an outstanding arrest warrant. That warrant involved a pending 2022 case in Woodbury County for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. Specketer attempted to flee back into his residence after initial contact with law enforcement at his door. Law enforcement apprehended Specketer in his residence with approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine. At the hearing, Specketer admitted he intended to distribute all or some of the methamphetamine to another. Specketer’s residence is within 1,000 feet of the Emmetsburg High School, a protected location.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Specketer remains in custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Specketer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 80 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Emmetsburg Police Department, Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3024. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Orlando Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Luis Miguel Plaza (34, Orlando) to 10 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Plaza entered a guilty plea on July 24, 2024.
According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration used an undercover agent and confidential informants to conduct multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Plaza. During two of the controlled purchases, in August 2023 and January 2024, Plaza sold the undercover agent and a confidential informant a total of over 1,100 pills containing fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, an analogue of fentanyl. In February 2024, Plaza possessed more than 7,000 pills containing fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, which he intended to sell to a confidential informant.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Omaha man was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possessing ammunition as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in April 2024, law enforcement responded to a report and identified that Lual Lul Nguot, 32, struck a woman and threatened to shoot bystanders who confronted him. Law enforcement later found Nguot and he was in possession of ammunition and two fake handguns. Nguot is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he is a felon.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Nguot will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Possession of Methamphetamine as Repeat OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Zachary McElderry, age 35, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced November 14, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced McElderry to 250 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After McElderry’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
On February 7, 2024, a confidential informant ordered three pounds of meth from McElderry. McElderry told the informant to meet at a QuikTrip in Omaha. At QuikTrip, DEA agents drove toward McElderry’s vehicle to arrest him. McElderry avoided the DEA vehicles and escaped. He drove recklessly for more than three miles, driving the wrong way on a street and passing vehicles faster than the speed of traffic. McElderry parked his vehicle, which had a blown tire, near some apartment buildings. He was eventually arrested in a residential neighborhood. During McElderry’s drive, a backpack with eight pounds of meth was thrown from the vehicle. Another two pounds of meth was found in the vehicle.
McElderry faced an enhanced mandatory minimum because of a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute meth in Douglas County District Court. The advisory guideline sentencing range was also enhanced because of reckless endangerment during flight from law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
North Carolina gun store robberies lead to prison sentences for Norfolk menRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Two Norfolk men have been sentenced for federal firearms crimes.
According to court documents, on Sept. 20, 2021, Khari Terell Wood, 28, and others broke into Gale Force Guns in Moyock, North Carolina, and stole five firearms. On Oct. 22, 2021, Wood and others broke into the same Gale Force Guns store and stole 47 firearms. After each of the burglaries, Wood transported the stolen firearms from North Carolina to Norfolk.
On Oct. 28,2021, law enforcement found Wood in a stolen vehicle at his residence. As officers approached, Wood quickly exited and attempted to flee into the residence, but the officers were able to detain him. During subsequent searches of the stolen vehicle, officers recovered several firearms that were stolen in the Gale Force Guns burglaries.
On Nov. 26, 2021, Isaiah Malquawn Hopkins, 28, broke into the River View Market in Norfolk, using one of the handguns stolen from Gale Force Guns to shoot through a glass door. He then entered the store and stole a lottery ticket box. On March 14, 2022, Hopkins was stopped by the Indiana State Police for a traffic infraction. During a search of the vehicle, officers found the handgun near the driver seat.
Wood previously had been convicted of robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Hopkins previously had been convicted of robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, conspiracy to commit robbery, and malicious wounding. As convicted felons, Wood and Hopkins cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Hopkins pled guilty on June 24 to being a felon in possession of firearms. On Oct. 24 he was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Wood pled guilty on June 25 to conspiracy and being a felon in possession of firearms. He was sentenced today to nine years and two months in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-33.
Nicholas County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Nathaniel Martin, 50, of Fenwick, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 6, 2021, Martin possessed a Smith & Wesson Model M&P Shield .40-caliber handgun in Nicholas County.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Martin knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for two counts of delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance in Nicholas County Circuit Court on June 2, 2009.
Martin is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Forest Service.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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. 2:24-cr-25.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JARREN LEE (“LEE”), age 36, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on November 12, 2024, by United States District Judge Darrel J. Papillion, for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, LEE was arrested by the New Orleans Police Department after being observed driving a stolen vehicle. When police searched the vehicle, they found two firearms, a Century Arms Inc. Model TP9, nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun and a Taurus Model Millennium G2, nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun, both equipped with high-capacity magazines, and one of which was stolen. LEE had several prior felony convictions, including multiple convictions for drug possession.
Judge Papillion sentenced LEE to 57 months of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator.
New Iberia Woman Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Jazmine Johnnie, age 23, of New Iberia, Louisiana, to 37 months in federal prison following her conviction for bank robbery. The Court further sentenced Johnnie to serve three years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment and ordered her to pay $3,500 in restitution.
According to admissions made as part of her guilty plea, on October 9, 2023, Johnnie drove in a rented Dodge Challenger to the branch location of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., at 7346 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She wore sweatpants, a sweatshirt, a bonnet, eyeglasses, and a blue surgical-style mask over her mouth. She spoke with a teller before saying she would leave the bank and return the next day. Johnnie left the bank in the rented Challenger and drove away.
On October 10, 2023, Johnnie, wearing the same outfit she had worn the previous day, drove the Challenger back to the same bank. After walking into the bank’s lobby, she stopped at a desk, picked up a blank withdrawal slip, and wrote the following note on the back of the slip, “This bomb in my bag will go off in 5 minutes! My BF is speaking to the teller with a AK & is ready to shoot if cops are (sic) security is notified[.] You have 15 seconds to give me 45,000 are (sic) everyone dies. Timer is on. You try anything or notify anyone & the bomb will go off. Clock is ticking.” At the bottom of the note “$45,000” was written with a circle around it.
After writing the note, Johnnie walked to the teller station in the rear of the bank carrying a purse, a cell phone, and the demand note that she had just written. Once she reached the teller station, Johnnie slid the note to the teller. She then set her purse on the teller counter and showed the screen of her cell phone to the teller. The screen showed a timer counting down.
The teller ultimately gave Johnnie $3,500 in cash. After putting the cash into her purse, Johnnie exited the bank, got back into the Challenger, and drove away. After a warrant was issued for her arrest, Johnnie surrendered to police. During a post-arrest interview, she admitted to committing the robbery.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Baton Rouge Police Department, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ben Wallace.
Multistate Kilo-Level Fentanyl Trafficker with Network from Philadelphia to Raleigh Sentenced to 10 YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Pennsylvania man, Jerome Fiers, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation involving large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine. Fiers, who operated as a middleman in a drug distribution network from Philadelphia to Raleigh, coordinated transactions that involved nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine and 323.8 grams of fentanyl. On July 15, 2024, Friers, age 47, pled guilty to the charges.
“We are using every tool available to combat the flow of fentanyl into Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We have dismantled Fiers’ extensive operation, which moved large quantities of drugs from Philly to Raleigh through the diligent efforts of the DEA and Raleigh Police Department. This case resulted in significant drug seizures and removed dangerous weapons from our streets, reflecting our commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
According to court documents and additional information presented in court, between July 2022 and January 2023, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents utilized confidential sources to purchase controlled substances from Fiers and conduct surveillance. This operation led to multiple seizures and helped clarify Fiers’ role within the organization.
On December 8, 2022, law enforcement arrested co-defendant Desmond Boyd, a well-known supplier in the network. His arrest resulted in the seizure of over 10 kilograms of cocaine, $7,591 in cash, and an AR-15 rifle with an obliterated serial number. Boyd would travel from Philadelphia and Reading, Pennsylvania, to deliver drugs to Fiers in Raleigh.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The DEA and the Raleigh Police Department investigated and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Sandling prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00053-FL.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl Pills that Resulted in Another Man’s DeathRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and DEA New Orleans Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man previously convicted on charges of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute the illegal drug. On November 14, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 37-year-old Lawrence Coley, III, serve 240 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented during Coley’s trial earlier this year, Coley sold a Montgomery man pills that had the appearance and markings of pharmaceutical oxycodone tablets. Lab analysis revealed that the pills sold to the victim were counterfeit and actually contained fentanyl, causing his death. During Coley’s sentencing hearing, the judge heard testimony that Coley continued to sell the counterfeit pills even after learning of the victim’s death.
“This case illustrates the tragic consequences that drug trafficking can have on our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “Coley’s complete disregard for the lives of others by continuing to sell his illegal drugs after causing a man’s death is disturbing. The harsh reality is that any pill not obtained from a pharmacy or doctor’s office could contain a lethal dose of fentanyl or other deadly drug. This sentence should serve as a warning to drug dealers - if you sell a pill and it contains fentanyl, you run the risk of spending decades in federal prison with no possibility of parole.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration is dedicated to protecting our communities from the scourge of deadly drugs plaguing our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Hofer. “Today’s conviction sends a powerful message to drug traffickers: we will not tolerate the poisoning of our neighborhoods. This victory is a testament to the tireless work of our agents and law enforcement partners and should serve as a stark reminder that there are serious consequences for those who choose profit over people.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Christopher P. Moore prosecuted the case.
Mobile Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Daryl Lowe, a Mobile man, has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer.
According to court documents, in July 2023, members of the Mobile Police Department (MPD) responded to a burglary in progress call. Lowe was captured on home surveillance entering a home and removing firearms. Within hours, MPD located and arrested Lowe. Lowe was in possession of two firearms he had stolen from the home he had just burglarized. Lowe is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possession a firearm. Lowe has an extensive criminal history including multiple burglary and property crime convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Moore imposed a 63-month sentence of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Lowe’s discharge from prison. Lowe’s state burglary charge arising out of these events remains pending.
The Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.Mississippi Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – MARSHALL GRACE (“GRACE”), age 47, of Mississippi, was sentenced on November 12, 2024, by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey, after previously being found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Count One) and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Count Two), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. On Count One, GRACE was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. On Count Two, GRACE was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment, four years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, to run concurrent with the sentence imposed in Count One.
According to the evidence at trial, GRACE supplied local methamphetamine dealers in the Hollygrove neighborhood in Orleans Parish with methamphetamine from approximately July 2019 until July 2020. GRACE was arrested after a traffic stop by Louisiana State Troopers in St. Tammany Parish, that uncovered half a kilogram of methamphetamine hidden in the trunk of GRACE’s vehicle. GRACE's two cellular phones were recovered at the time of his arrest and information was extracted. Drug Enforcement Administration Agents located multiple narcotics trafficking communications on GRACE’s two cellular phones, that included communications between GRACE and the local dealers he supplied.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, and the Kenner Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn E. Schiffman and Nolan D. Paige of the Narcotics Unit.
Midland Resident Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Midland, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on November 13, 2024, to four years of incarceration, to be followed by five years of federal supervised release, for possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on James Davis, 58, also ordering Davis to pay mandatory special assessments and restitution to the victims of his crime.
Earlier this year, Davis pleaded guilty in this case to one count of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor on June 11, 2021. In imposing the sentence, Judge Colville emphasized the serious nature of the offense as well as the extreme harm suffered by Davis’s victims.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Davis.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Middleton Woman Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing Firearm Used in Murder SuicideRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Shawna Tantillo, 34, Middleton, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 18 months in federal prison for straw purchasing a firearm. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Tantillo pled guilty to this charge on August 13, 2024.
“Straw purchasing” is when a gun buyer lies to a firearms dealer to purchase a gun for someone else. Most often straw purchases occur either because the straw buyer can pass the required background check and the actual buyer cannot, or because the actual buyer wants to avoid having their name associated with the gun transaction. Straw purchasing is a federal crime that can result in up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. It’s a serious threat to public safety because it undermines background check laws and contributes to the illegal gun market. Guns purchased through straw purchases can end up in the hands of minors or convicted felons. Guns purchased through straw purchases are often used to commit violent crimes, as was the situation in the Tantillo case.
On December 8, 2024, Tantillo purchased a firearm from a federal firearms licensee. As required by law, she completed the background check which included filling out a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473. On that form, she attested that she was the actual purchaser. However, Tantillo was in fact purchasing the gun for her friend. Tantillo’s friend was originally identified in the indictment as “Person 1,” but in the government’s recently unsealed sentencing memorandum, “Person 1” is further identified by her initials, J.J. Tantillo purchased the gun for J.J. despite knowing that J.J. could not legally purchase or possess a gun because of a prior felony conviction. J.J. paid Tantillo for the gun, plus an additional $150. On February 18, 2024, J.J. used the gun to shoot the father of her children, shoot and kill her children, and then take her own life.
“The tragic facts of this case reinforce the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to prosecuting ‘straw purchase’ cases” said U.S. Attorney Timothy O’Shea. “Stopping straw buyers and illegal firearms trafficking is the first line of defense against gun violence. It is a federal crime to lie to a gun dealer to buy a gun for someone else. If you do so, you will be prosecuted, and your best-case scenario is a felony conviction; the worst-case scenario is that you go to prison and that someone is hurt or killed. If a friend or relative asks you to lie to a gun dealer to try to buy a gun for them, don’t do it,” O’Shea said.
“An unthinkable crime was made possible because Ms. Tantillo purchased a firearm for someone who was legally prohibited from owning a firearm,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle, of the St. Paul Field Division. “Ms. Tantillo may have had no awareness of the future crimes to be committed with the firearm she purchased, but she should have questioned why she was being asked to purchase it. A person who can legally possess firearms wouldn’t be asking for this type of favor. I hope this case can be a stark warning to others who might consider purchasing a firearm for a prohibited person.”
“The events surrounding this incident had an enormous impact on many in our community,“ said Middleton Police Chief Troy Hellenbrand. “This incident also showcases how serious law enforcement agencies take straw purchases which lead to violent crimes in our communities. Although we are unable to bring back the beautiful lives who were lost in this tragic incident, the court system worked as designed in finding Ms. Tantillo responsible for the purchase and sale of a gun which was used in these homicides. The Middleton Police Department would like to thank our various law enforcement partners who assisted in this investigation and subsequent arrest and conviction of Ms. Tantillo,” said Hellenbrand.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley said that straw purchases, particularly when the firearm is given to a prohibited person, are a serious offense. Judge Conley found that although there is no evidence that Tantillo knew J.J. was going to use the gun to shoot her children and their father, her actions were intended to circumvent the nation’s gun laws and the sentence reflected the tragic outcome.
The charge against Tantillo was the result of an investigation conducted by the Middleton and Fitchburg Police Departments. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the investigation. The task force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Murder on the Natchez Trace ParkwayRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Mexican national pled guilty today to murder on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, on September 23, 2018, Cristian Mitchel Mondragon Gonzales, 29, had an altercation with the victim following a party at a residence where they both lived. The victim left the residence and Mondragon Gonzales sought after him and found him. He convinced the victim to go for a ride with him. He then drove the victim to a location on the Natchez Trace Parkway where they both got out of the car. Gonzales shot the unarmed victim multiple times. The victim was discovered the following morning by an individual walking along a trail on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Mondragon Gonzales pled guilty to second degree murder and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 12, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Natchez Trace Parkway Police, and the Ridgeland Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.
Meridian Man Sentenced in the Northern District of Georgia for Computer Hacking and Extortion SchemeRead the Press Release
BOISE – Robert Purbeck, 45, of Meridian, who hacked into the computer servers of the City of Newnan, a Griffin, Georgia, medical clinic, and 17 other victims across the United States, and stole personal information belonging to more than 132,000 people, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison. Purbeck also attempted to extort a Florida orthodontist for payment in Bitcoin, threatening to disclose stolen patient records and other personal information.
“Purbeck’s crimes reflect the efforts of a callous and brazen cybercriminal who not only hacked into numerous computer servers and stole sensitive personal information from both private and public actors, but also threatened to extort many of his victims and disclose their data,” said Northern District of Georgia’s U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the tireless work of law enforcement, Purbeck’s time of hiding behind a computer to steal, threaten, and intimidate is over.”
“Cyber extortion is unfortunately a rapidly growing threat and highlights the ever-growing need for corporations to remain vigilant in cybersecurity efforts,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing is just one example of the FBI working together to hold criminals that hide behind their computers accountable, regardless of their location.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In June 2017, Purbeck purchased access to the computer server of a Griffin medical clinic on a darknet marketplace. He then used the stolen credentials to illegally access the computers of the medical clinic and removed records that contained the sensitive personal information of more than 43,000 individuals, including names, addresses, birth dates, and social security numbers.
In February 2018, Purbeck purchased access to a City of Newnan Police Department server on a darknet marketplace. Purbeck used the stolen credentials to hack into the City of Newnan’s computer systems and stole police reports and other documents, including personal information of more than 14,000 individuals.
Purbeck also attempted to extort a Florida orthodontist in July 2018, demanding a ransom payment in Bitcoin in return for his stolen patient files, threatening to sell the patient and personal information unless the orthodontist paid the ransom. Additionally, Purbeck threatened to sell the personal information of the orthodontist’s minor child. Purbeck harassed the orthodontist and his patients for 10 days with numerous threatening emails and text messages.
On August 21, 2019, FBI special agents executed a federal search warrant at Purbeck’s home in Meridian, Idaho. During the search, agents seized multiple computers and electronic devices, which contained personal information of over 132,000 individuals, obtained through Purbeck’s numerous data breaches, including the City of Newnan, the Griffin medical clinic, and at least 17 other victims throughout the United States. Many of these victims incurred substantial expenses, including remediation costs and disruption to business operations because of Purbeck’s conduct.
Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. also sentenced Purbeck to serve three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $1,048,702.98. Purbeck was convicted of two counts of computer fraud and abuse on March 19, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Field Office, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI Boise (Idaho) Resident Agency.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz, Nathan Kitchens, Alex R. Sistla, from the Northern District of Georgia, and Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the U.S. Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho also assisted with this case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
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McFarland Man Sentenced to Prison for Lying to Illegally Purchase FirearmsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Erik Smay, 45, McFarland, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 3 months in federal prison for making a false statement during the purchase of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Smay pleaded guilty to this charge on August 29, 2024.
In 2022, Smay purchased several firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers in and around Madison, Wisconsin. Law enforcement found some of the firearms that Smay purchased were used by others to facilitate crimes in the area. On January 23, 2024, law enforcement interviewed Smay about his firearms purchases, and he admitted to lying to the firearms dealers when asked about his unlawful drug use and addictions. During each purchase, Smay certified his answers to the federal firearms dealers were true, correct, and complete.
At sentencing, Judge Conley found a custodial sentence was necessary to disrupt Smay’s polysubstance addictions given his challenges complying with his release conditions during this case. Judge Conley acknowledged Smay’s extensive history battling addictions made him vulnerable to exploitation by those prohibited from possessing firearms. Judge Conley asserted Smay was likely trading firearms to support a drug habit, which highlighted the poignance of asking firearms purchasers about their possible unlawful drug use or addictions.
The charge against Smay was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Fitchburg Police Department, McFarland Police Department, and DeForest Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also investigated the case. The task force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ayala prosecuted this case.
Massachusetts National Guardsman Indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for Possession and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Master Sergeant of the 102 Security Forces of the Massachusetts National Guard stationed in Sandwich, Mass. has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston of possession and distribution of child pornography.
Nicholas Wells, 43, was indicted for possession and distribution of child pornography. At his initial appearance in federal court in Boston, on Oct. 24, 2024, Wells agreed to be voluntarily detained pending trial without prejudice.
According to the charging documents, Wells engaged in chats on a messaging application, in which he discussed his interest in minors and distributed videos depicting child pornography. It is alleged that, following search warrants for Wells’ messaging application account and home, law enforcement officials have uncovered over 300 images and 100 videos depicting child pornography on Wells’ phone and evidence that Wells distributed over 70 videos depicting child pornography. Some of the child pornography located involves infants.
The charge of possessing child pornography provides for a sentence up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000. The charge of distributing child pornography provides for a sentence of not less than five years and not more than 20 years, five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Barnstable and Sandwich Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Conspiracy Involving Tens of Thousands of Counterfeit PillsRead the Press Release
BOSTON –A Reading, Mass. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug conspiracy involving tens of thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Charles Bates, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. In August 2024, Bates pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
In August 2022, an investigation began into Bates after he ordered 50 kilograms of an orange binding agent commonly used to make counterfeit Adderall pills, which he was observed picking up at a UPS store in Boston.
Bates exchanged text messages with drug customers and associates in which he spoke about pills that are “made to order,” described being physically present at the place where the pills were made and “watching the guy work so no corners have been cut.” In addition, Bates drafted recipes for counterfeit pills that he kept on his phone or sent to others. The offense involved at least 136,000 counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, equivalent to approximately 40 kilograms of pills. After a pill press broke, Bates traveled to Rhode Island to obtain a replacement. Bates was observed transporting a large, heavy item that appeared to be a pill press to codefendant Aaron Lenardis’ residence in Saugus. A search of Lenardis’ residence on Oct. 25, 2022 resulted in the seizure of an industrial pill press; 14 firearms including a Glock outfitted to operate as a machinegun; at least 1.85 kilograms of pills and powder containing methamphetamine; at least 87.6 grams of pills and powder containing fentanyl; and “M30” stamps commonly used to manufacture counterfeit pills.
In November 2024, Lenardis was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Lenardis is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 12, 2025.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel R. Feldman and Charles Dell'Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Maryland fentanyl trafficker sentenced to 10 years in prison after selling over 15,000 pillsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Oct. 12, 2023, Fairfax County Police (FCPD) conducted a controlled buy of 200 counterfeit pressed pills containing fentanyl, xylazine, and para-fluorofentanyl from Jahrulle Terrence Whyte, 29, of Glen Burnie. On Oct. 25, 2023, FCPD conducted another controlled purchase of 15,000 fentanyl pills from Whyte. Whyte also brought an additional 2,000 fentanyl pills to the pre-arranged deal. Whyte was taken into custody by law enforcement and all 17,000 pills were seized.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hahn prosecuted the case.
Assistance was provided by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-118.
Maryland Man Indicted on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Joshua Hockenberry, age 32, of Maryland, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of attempted production of child pornography, interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual contact, transportation of a minor, obstruction of justice, and retaliation against a witness.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that from March 2024 and continuing to at least July 2024, Hockenberry carried on a sexual relationship with a minor victim in which he transported the minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The indictment also alleges that Hockenberry attempted to have the minor produce child pornography, persuaded the minor to delete evidence, and threatened the minor after she provided incriminating evidence to law enforcement.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life in prison, up to life on supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Manhattan Franciscan Friar Pleads Guilty to Fraud Related to Fake Medical Charity in Beirut, LebanonRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that PAWEL BIELECKI, a/k/a “Paul HRH Saxe-Coburg-Gotha,” a Manhattan-based Franciscan friar, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti to one count of wire fraud for perpetrating a multi-year scheme to obtain donations for a fake medical charity in Beirut, Lebanon.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This case serves as a stark reminder that fraudsters can exploit even the most noble causes for personal gain. Pawel Bielecki’s deceptive actions not only robbed individuals of their hard-earned money but also undermined the spirit of generosity that drives charitable giving. This Office is committed to holding accountable those who take advantage of well-meaning donors and will continue to work tirelessly to protect the integrity of charitable organizations in our communities.”
According to the allegations contained in the Information, plea agreement, and statements made in related court filings and proceedings:
BIELECKI is a friar in the Capuchin Order, a Catholic order of priests and brothers, who is based out of a friary in New York City. BIELECKI engaged in a fraudulent scheme related to fake medical clinics he claimed to operate in Lebanon. Through appearances and advertisements on radio programs and online podcasts, as well as various other media, including campaigns on various crowdfunding websites, BIELECKI fraudulently obtained more than $560,000 in donations from victims by claiming, among other misrepresentations, to run medical clinics in Beirut, Lebanon, when in fact BIELECKI was keeping victims’ donations for his personal use.
If you believe you are a victim of fraud perpetrated by BIELECKI, please contact Special Agent Sean Smyth, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, at (914) 993‑1900 or by following the instructions available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/report-crime.
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BIELECKI, 48, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Division. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander and Ryan W. Allison are in charge of the prosecution.
Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking of Valet Driver in SoutheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Raymond Davese, 38, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Davese has been in custody since his arrest on June 7, 2024. His guilty plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed-upon 8-year prison sentence, to be followed by three years’ supervised release. Davese entered his guilty plea on November 13, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Heidi M. Pasichow.
Judge Pasichow scheduled sentencing for February 21, 2025.
During the plea hearing, Davese admitted that he carjacked a valet driver on June 7, 2024. The victim had just parked a client’s SUV in the parking garage at 221 Tingey Street Southeast when Davese attacked her from behind, put her in a headlock, and deployed a taser into her neck. After Davese brought the victim to the ground, he took the keys from her and drove away in the SUV. Davese crashed the SUV a short distance later and was apprehended on the scene by members of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Parron.
MS-13 Gang Member Indicted for 2011 Murder of Queens ManRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Roger Morales, also known as “Crazy,” “Ciclon” and “Cyclone,” was arrested in connection with an indictment charging him with the June 5, 2011 murder in-aid-of racketeering of Norman Mizzell. Morales was arrested this morning and was arraigned this afternoon this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. Morales was ordered detained pending trial.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Thomas G. Donlon, Interim Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, the defendant and his co-conspirators killed the victim for the twisted purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the MS-13 gang,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This prosecution reflects the resolve by my Office and our law enforcement partners to bring gang members to justice for their violent crimes and that we will not be deterred by the passage of time.”
“In 2011, Roger Morales, a MS-13 member, allegedly determined murder as fitting retribution for Norman Mizzell advocating for himself after being previously burglarized by the same crew. This alleged cold-blooded execution highlights MS-13’s violent and mercurial intolerance for disrespect that threatens our community’s safety. With the assistance of our law enforcement partners, the FBI maintains its unwavering posture to eliminate all gang violence regardless of when that crime occurred.,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.
“The senseless violence described in the charges announced today has no place in New York City,” stated NYPD Interim Commissioner Donlon. “Our team of NYPD investigators, along with our partners at the FBI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, will continue to use all available resources to identify and dismantle street gangs, particularly the notoriously brutal MS-13, wherever they may be operating. This crucial effort will remain a top priority until every neighborhood in New York City is as safe as our safest community.”
As alleged in the government’s detention letter filed earlier today, Morales was a member of the Centrales Locos Salvatruchas clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, in Queens, New York. In the spring of 2011, Morales and other members of MS-13 committed a burglary at the victim’s home where they had gone to purchase marijuana. They found that he was away, broke into the house and took his belongings. Later, the victim confronted Morales and his co-conspirators about the burglary, and they decided to kill him. The defendant and his co-conspirators obtained a firearm from another MS-3 clique and enlisted the help of another MS-13 member who needed to commit a murder to regain standing in the gang. Then, on the night of June 5, 2011, Morales and his co-conspirators traveled to the victim’s home, where they shot him several times through a window into his bedroom during a feigned late-night marijuana purchase. The victim’s body was found the next day.
The charge in the indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of murder in-aid-of racketeering, Morales faces up to life in prison.
Today’s charges are the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2009, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 70 murders in the district and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by our law enforcement partners.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Kamil R. Ammari, Anna L. Karamigios, Jonathan Siegel and Michael W. Gibaldi are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ROGER MORALES (also known as “Crazy,” “Ciclon” and “Cyclone”)
Age: 31
Ozone Park, QueensE.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 24-CR-453 (BMC)
Lawrence Woman Sentenced to Probation for Fentanyl ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence, Mass. woman was sentenced to probation yesterday in federal court in Boston for conspiring to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Ceferina Dominguez, 57, was sentenced by District Court Judge Angel Kelley to four years’ probation. The government recommended a sentence of 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In June 2024, Dominguez pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Dominguez was charged in connection with the April 2021 seizure of 9.6 kilograms of fentanyl from her Lawrence residence and an additional 6.4 kilograms of fentanyl from a hidden compartment in a car registered to her. In 2018, fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, fentanyl precursors and drug proceeds were seized from a townhouse rented by Dominguez.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson, Deputy Chief of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Las Vegas Woman Pleads Guilty to Committing Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud While on Pretrial ReleaseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman pleaded guilty today to using a California Employment Development Department (EDD) unemployment insurance benefits debit card in another person’s name without the person’s authorization.
Deandra Michelle Smith (39) pleaded guilty to illegal transaction with access devices issued to another person. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 19, 2025, before United States District Judge Jennifer Dorsey. Smith faces a statutory maximum penalty of 35 years in prison.
According to court documents and admissions made in court by Smith, around March or April 2020, she helped a friend file for unemployment insurance with the California EDD, and the friend began receiving benefits and used the benefits through an EDD debit card. In December 2020, the friend was able to resume employment and told Smith to stop the unemployment claim. However, Smith did not notify the California EDD and unemployment insurance benefits continued to be deposited into the debit card account. Between January 22, 2021 and August 17, 2021, Smith used the debit card to receive more than $16,100 in benefits that she used for her own personal expenses.
At the time of the crimes, Smith was on pretrial release after pleading guilty to unemployment insurance fraud using the personal identifying information of a family member.
“Deandra Smith engaged in a scheme to defraud DOL’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program by using a friend’s personally identifiable information to obtain UI benefits without the friend’s permission or consent. Despite being previously prosecuted and convicted for similar conduct, Smith exploited the UI program. This case highlights our strong collaboration with the United States Attorney’s Office and our mutual commitment to secure justice for the American workforce,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent in Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada Special Agent in Charge Quentin Heiden of the DOL-OIG, Western Region made the announcement.
The DOL-OIG investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn is prosecuting the case.
In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF web complaint form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Kenner Man Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –ALTON GRAYSON, age 37, was sentenced on November 7, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to 88 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release, along with a $200 special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B), and being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, in January of 2023, GRAYSON was pulled over by a Kenner Police Department officer for traffic violations. Inside GRAYSON’s car there were large bags of multicolored pills containing methamphetamine that GRAYSON intended to sell. GRAYSON also possessed a stolen Kimber Model Ultra TLE II, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. GRAYSON is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions, including a conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Kenner Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
KC Woman Charged in $1.9 Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman has been charged in federal court for a scheme to use stolen identities to deposit fraudulent U.S. Treasury checks totaling more than $1.9 million into her bank accounts.
Briauna L. Adams, 28, was charged in a seven-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Adams was arrested today and, following an initial court appearance, remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Adams used a stolen identity to open a bank account on March 12, 2024. Approximately two hours after the account was open, the affidavit says, Adams deposited a stolen U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $10,590. The bank flagged the check as suspicious and did not credit the account. A Louisiana woman told investigators she had been expecting a check from the Internal Revenue Service and had been a recent victim of identity theft.
On June 18, 2024, Adams allegedly deposited a fraudulent U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $450,504 into an investment account she had recently opened. The bank placed a 10-day hold on most of the balance, however, access was granted to a percentage of the funds for “good faith” investing. Adams transferred $12,000 from the account to two personal bank accounts, the affidavit says. Hours after both transfers were complete, the bank received notification that the U.S. Treasury check Adams deposited was fraudulent and reversed the deposit from Adams’s account, leaving a negative balance and causing the bank to suffer a financial loss.
Investigators traced the IP address that was used to access the accounts and learned that Adams allegedly had used the stolen identity of a Texas woman, including a driver’s license, when she rented an apartment in Kansas City, Mo. Adams moved out of the apartment in July 2024 after failing to pay more than $14,000 in rent.
On Aug. 15, 2024, Adams allegedly deposited a U.S. Treasure check worth $1,445,443 into another investment account with a different firm. Over the next two days, Adams accessed the account online eight times. Fraud investigators with the firm determined the U.S. Treasury check was fraudulent and reversed the deposit before suffering a financial loss.
Investigators traced the IP addresses that were used in an attempt to gain access to the illicit funds and learned that Adams allegedly had used the stolen identity of a second Texas woman, including a driver’s license, to rent a townhouse in Raymore, Mo.
The federal criminal complaint charges Adams with one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Justice Department Finds Conditions at Fulton County Jail in Georgia Violate the Constitution and Federal LawRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today its findings that conditions of confinement at the Fulton County Jail (the Jail) in Georgia violate the 8th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The department’s report details its findings from a comprehensive investigation of the Jail, funded and operated by Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation included the Main Jail in Atlanta and three annex facilities: the Marietta Annex in Atlanta, the North Annex in Alpharetta, and the South Annex in Union City. The Jail currently houses around 2,000 people and in recent years has surpassed 3,000 people.
“Lashawn Thompson’s horrific death was symptomatic of a pattern of dangerous and dehumanizing conditions in the Fulton County Jail,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department’s report concluded that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office allowed unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the Jail. As a result, people incarcerated in the Fulton County Jail suffered harms from pest infestation and malnourishment and were put at substantial risk of serious harm from violence by other incarcerated people — including homicides, stabbings and sexual abuse. The unconstitutional and unlawful conditions at the Fulton County Jail have persisted for far too long, and we are committed to working with Fulton County and the Fulton County Sherrif’s office to remedy them.”
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the inhumane, violent, and hazardous conditions that people are subjected to inside the Fulton County Jail," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Detention in the Fulton County Jail has amounted to a death sentence for dozens of people who have been murdered or who died as a result of the atrocious conditions inside the facility. It’s not just adults but also children who are subjected to conditions and treatment that violate the constitution and defy federal law. Many people held in jails in our country have not been convicted — they are awaiting hearings, trial dates or are serving short sentences for misdemeanors. At the end of the day, people do not abandon their civil and constitutional rights at the jailhouse door. Jails and prisons across the country must protect people from the kind of gross violations and unconstitutional conditions that we have uncovered here. We hope our findings report sounds an alarm that will prompt Fulton County officials to work with the Justice Department to implement the reforms necessary to ensure constitutional conditions going forward.”
“In Fulton County, people in custody awaiting formal charges or trials frequently must protect themselves from brutal physical attacks, endure frequent excessive force, manage their wellbeing with inadequate food and unsanitary living conditions, and hope they can find access to a strained medical and mental health care program. This is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “Our Constitution requires humane conditions while incarcerated that, at a minimum, ensure people in custody are safe. The findings regarding the Fulton County Jail reveal grave and diffuse failures to safeguard the men and women housed in its facilities, including a disturbing frequency of deaths among incarcerated people. We expect Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to share our sense of urgency about the seriousness of the violations described in this report and to work cooperatively with our office and the Justice Department to remedy these systemic deficiencies in the Jail.”
Following an extensive investigation, the department concludes that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office routinely violate the rights of people incarcerated at the Jail. Specifically, the department found that the Jail:
- Fails to protect people from the substantial risk of serious harm from violence by other incarcerated people, including homicides, stabbings, and sexual abuse.
- Houses incarcerated people in unconstitutional living conditions that are unsanitary and dangerous.
- Fails to provide adequate medical and mental health services to incarcerated people.
- Uses solitary confinement in discriminatory and unconstitutional ways that exposes incarcerated people, including 17-year-old children and those with mental health disabilities, to substantial harm.
- Fails to provide special education services to 17-year-old boys and girls who are entitled to those services while they are incarcerated at the Jail.
The unlawful and dangerous practices identified in the report are long-standing and have contributed to multiple deaths and other serious harm. From 2022 to the present, six incarcerated people have died in violence at the Jail. In 2023, there were more than 300 stabbings in the Jail which involved uncontrolled contraband and makeshift weapons. There have been four deaths from suicide in the past four years, including as recently as April.
The Justice Department conducted its investigation of the Fulton County Jail under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 34 U.S.C. § 12601, which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. These statutes authorize the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in federal court seeking court-ordered remedies to eliminate a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct. The department provided Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office with written notice of the supporting facts for its conclusions and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the alleged violations. The County will work with the Justice Department toward a cooperative resolution.
The findings announced today are the result of the Justice Department’s civil investigation and are separate from any criminal cases brought by the Justice Department.
The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia investigated the case.
The Civil Rights Division continues to prioritize unconstitutional conditions and violations of federal law in correctional and juvenile justice facilities. It opened new investigations into prisons and jails in Tennessee, California, South Carolina, and juvenile justice facilities across Kentucky. The division also issued findings in its investigations of Mississippi prisons, Texas juvenile justice system’s facilities, and the Georgia Department of Corrections. The division is also litigating the constitutionality of conditions in Alabama’s prisons for men.
For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. You can also report civil rights violations to the section by completing the complaint form available at civilrights.justice.gov/. To provide information related to the department’s investigation of the Fulton County Jail, please call 1-888-473-4092 or email the department at FultonCountyJail@usdoj.gov.
Jury Finds Man Guilty of Attempting to Kill His Girlfriend by Stabbing Her 21 TimesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Devan Green, 30, of Washington D.C., has been found guilty today of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault with significant bodily injury while armed, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The verdict follows a seven-day jury trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Rainey Brandt scheduled sentencing for January 10, 2025. Green faces the potential maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Green held his girlfriend and her young child inside of their apartment against their will for over forty minutes while her family called 911 numerous times. Green stabbed his girlfriend once in the chest with a knife, and then when she went to check on her son, he stabbed her 20 more times. He then fled the apartment and was apprehended a month later.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Molly K. Smith and Katharine E. Yaske of the Domestic Violence Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Indiana Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Crack Cocaine ViolationsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Indiana, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Barry Baker, 45, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson on November 13, 2024.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around December 2021 to in and around March 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Baker conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of crack cocaine.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Baker. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Indian Trail Man on Supervised Release for Federal Conviction Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for COVID-19 SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Roger Trent Melchor, 56, of Indian Trail, N.C., pleaded guilty yesterday to wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining $32,000 in COVID-19 pandemic relief loans, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to plea documents and the court hearing, between July 2020 to May 2021, Melchor used false information to apply for loans and receive funds from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). To obtain the loans, Melchor submitted applications on behalf of himself and his company, “RSTR Sanitizing,” that contained false information about Melchor and his business’s gross income and gross revenue. Melchor also submitted a fabricated tax return in support of the PPP loan application and falsely stated in the loan application that he had not “commenced any form of parole or probation” within the last five years. Based on the fraudulent applications, Melchor received approximately $32,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.
Court records show that Melchor was prosecuted in the Middle District of North Carolina for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. As a result of that conviction, Melchor served a term of imprisonment and was on federal supervised release when he engaged in the PPP and EIDL fraud scheme.
Melchor is currently released on bond. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine Melchor’s sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date for Melchor has not been set.
The Small Business Administration’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Illegally Armed Anderson Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to over 20 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS— Kennley Johnson, 43, of Anderson, has been sentenced to 250 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to three counts of methamphetamine distribution and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on three separate occasions in March and April of 2024, Johnson was observed selling a total of 131.8 grams of methamphetamine, a Colt pistol, and a Manuel Escodin revolver to a person in Anderson. Officers conducted a court-authorized search of Johnson’s Anderson residence and found over 380 grams of additional methamphetamine, ammunition, and a loaded 9mm handgun. Johnson was arrested during the search and officers found $5,857 in cash in his pocket.
Johnson is a career criminal—since turning eighteen he has been convicted of five prior drug-related offenses and one for failing to return to lawful detention after absconding from work release. At the time of his arrest, Johnson was still on probation. As a convicted felon, Johnson is permanently prohibited from legally possessing a firearm.
“Illegally armed drug dealers do tremendous harm to communities in every part of our state,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Numerous prior convictions and prison terms were not enough to convince this career criminal to change his ways. Thanks to the efforts of the Anderson Police Department, the ATF, and our federal prosecutor, the community will now be protected from his crimes as he serves a significant term in federal prison.”
“There is no place in our society for those who use firearms for violent, criminal purposes and spread drugs through our community,” said Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels to bring those individuals to justice.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Anderson Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case.
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Houston man charged with attempting to provide material support to ISISRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 28-year-old man has been indicted for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani and FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr.
Anas Said is now in custody and set for a detention hearing at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray. Authorities arrested Said Nov. 8.
According to court documents, multiple social media accounts linked to Said contained messages and posts that allegedly revealed that Said supported ISIS and the violent attacks carried out in its name.
Law enforcement executed searches of Said and his residence, vehicle and electronic devices. According to court documents, analysis of the seized devices ultimately revealed Said’s activities relating to the creation and dissemination of propaganda on behalf of ISIS.
If convicted, Said faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
FBI Houston's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) conducted the investigation with special assistance from Houston and Sugar Land Police Departments and Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The JTTF is comprised of Houston Police Department, sheriff’s offices in Harris and Montgomery Counties, Sugar Land Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, IRS – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Secret Service, Houston Metro Police Department, Customs and Border Protection and Federal Air Marshals Service.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Gregg County woman sentenced for distributing deadly fentanylRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Longview woman has been sentenced to federal prison for distributing fentanyl resulting in death in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Rebecca Diane Merkel, 43, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
According to information presented in Court, Merkel operated what was known to drug users as the “Walmart of drugs” out of her residence located on Williams Street in Longview. There, she and her co-defendants sold various illegal narcotics, including methamphetamine and pills laced with fentanyl, in exchange for money, stolen goods, and firearms. Merkel’s customers included street-level dealers in Gregg, Rusk, and Panola counties.
On March 29, 2023, Merkel sold what were purported to be prescription pills to a victim, who died after ingesting them. On March 30, 2023, law enforcement located the victim’s body inside a vehicle in a remote area in Rusk County, where other co-defendants staged the body to avoid detection by authorities. An autopsy determined that the victim died of a fentanyl overdose.
On May 10, 2023, Merkel was arrested following a traffic stop during which officers recovered a firearm, methamphetamine, heroin, crack cocaine, and pills that were later determined to contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid commonly used as an analgesic or anesthetic that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Merkel admitted to selling controlled substances from her residence, including in the time frame during which the victim purchased the fatal dose.
“This case illustrates the very real and tragic danger associated with fentanyl distribution in the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere. We mourn the senseless loss of life and pray for the victim’s family in a time of such immeasurable grief. We will aggressively continue to work together with our state and local partners to bring to justice those who aim to profit from these tragedies,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
In addition to Merkel, six other co-defendants were also sentenced for their respective criminal conduct related to the conspiracy:
- Timothy Wayne Yow, 58, of Longview, received a 188-month sentence;
- Jonathan Schurr, 26, of Longview, received a 46-month sentence;
- Stephanie Nichoal Kravis, 38, of Kilgore, received a 140-month sentence;
- Wesley Ryan Parker, 33, of Carthage, received a 120-month sentence;
- Daulton Wayne Anthony, 31, of Carthage, received a 71-month sentence; and
- Kylie Breaane Durand, 28, of Carthage, received a 37-month sentence.
“During the course of this investigation it has been our privilege to partner with surrounding Sheriffs’ Offices and federal agencies to provide manpower and other assistance. We appreciate our counterparts at ATF and the US Attorney’s Office for their help investigating and prosecuting violent crimes and narcotics offenses in our area,” said Panola County Sheriff Cutter Clinton. He added, “The opioid crisis often results in other criminal activity, particularly property crimes and violent crimes involving illegal firearms. By introducing fentanyl into the mix unsuspecting victims have experienced overdoses, often with fatal results. By working together, we can make our communities safer for our citizens.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Public Safety Alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. The Public Safety Alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of a significant nationwide surge in fake pills that are mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate. For more information, please visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), DEA, Gregg County Sheriff's Office, Panola County Sheriff's Office, Rusk County Sheriff's Office, Longview Police Department, and Kilgore Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Greenbrier Man Sentenced to 19 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced today that Roy David Lykins, 56, of Greenbrier, who fraudulently collected more than $249,000 from the Social Security Administration (SSA), was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller. Lykins was also sentenced to two years of supervised release.
Lykins began receiving Title II Disability Insurance benefits beginning in October 2001. Sometime in February 2005, pursuant to a medical review with the SSA, Lykins claimed in official documents that he could only walk 35 to 50 feet. He also claimed that he could not take care of his own personal hygiene and that he could not understand or follow instructions. From 2002 through 2005, Lykins continued to receive Title II Disability Insurance benefits. Pursuant to notices issued by the SSA, Lykins is required to promptly report any work, earnings, or changes in his condition.
The investigation into Lykins revealed that from 2005 through 2018, Lykins worked as a salaried farmhand in Red Oak, Arkansas. During this time, Lykins received Title II Disability Insurance benefits and did not report his employment to SSA. Lykins concealed his earnings by convincing his employer to issue his paychecks in his wife’s name and Social Security number. During the period 2005 through 2022, Lykins never reported any work, earnings, or changes in his condition as is required by the SSA.
If Lykins would have reported his earnings as a farmhand in 2005, his benefits would have been terminated. Because Lykins did not report his earnings, the resulting loss suffered by the SSA is approximately $249,166.10. Additionally, Lykins received Medicare benefits through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that he was not entitled. The amount of loss to HHS is approximately $56,227.40.
“This defendant knowingly concealed his earnings and was untruthful about the status of his disability, resulting in the receipt of a significant amount of undeserved money and benefits,” Ross said. “Please let this be a warning to those who seek to engage in similar conduct: our office will hold you accountable and seek significant penalties.”
“Roy Lykins feigned a disability and provided a false Social Security Number to fraudulently obtain benefits from SSA for more than a decade. By working as a farmhand and concealing his work and earnings under his wife’s Social Security number, he deceived SSA that he was entitled Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits, causing SSA to improperly pay him more than $249,000. This 19-month federal prison sentence now holds him accountable for his criminal acts,” said Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Acting Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “I commend the work of our investigators, and our Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit for their diligent efforts in working to protect taxpayers and SSA benefits. I also thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting this case and bringing forth justice.”
Lykins was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 3, 2023. He was charged with one count of theft of government property and one count of making a false statement. On January 24, 2024, Lykins pleaded guilty to theft of government property in exchange for dismissal of the remaining charge.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
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Grand Rapids Man Sentenced to 300 Months for Trafficking and Sexually Exploiting A MinorRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Terrence Donte Clay, 39, of Grand Rapids, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for sex trafficking of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, and distribution of child pornography.
“Mr. Clay is a sexual predator who preyed on a minor victim, treated her like his property, ordered her to sell herself for sex, and has demonstrated no remorse for his actions” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We are committed to fighting the scourge of human trafficking, including both sex and labor trafficking. I appreciate the investigative work by our law enforcement partners to hold Mr. Clay accountable and secure a measure of justice for the victim.”
Evidence introduced at trial showed that Clay met the minor victim at a park in the City of Grand Rapids in early October 2022. He had sex multiple times with the victim and ordered her to have sex with other men for money, at one point directing her to “make a sign” and “panhandle,” offering specific sex acts at set prices. After securing nude images of the minor victim, Clay advertised her online.
Police found the minor victim in a library, and she was taken to a foster home in the Upper Peninsula, while law enforcement began its investigation. Meanwhile, Clay located the minor victim and picked her up at her foster home early on the morning of November 12, 2022, without the knowledge of the foster family. Shortly after crossing south of the Mackinac Bridge, law enforcement pulled over the vehicle and found the minor victim in the car with the defendant.
“Our Human Trafficking Task Force continues to make progress in prosecutions and building relationships with area victim service providers to further enhance Kent County’s response to sex and labor trafficking,” said Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young. “It is not lost on us the impact these horrible crimes have on victims and our overall community.”
“Today’s sentencing of Terrence Clay is a decisive victory in our unyielding battle against sexual predators who prey on children,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “This outcome underscores the relentless dedication of the FBI's WEBCHEX Task Force, specifically our law enforcement partners at the Kent County Sheriff's Office, Kentwood Police Department, Forsythe Police Department, Cheboygan Sheriff’s Office, Tuscarora Township Police Department, and Michigan State Police. It is a clear reminder of the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities and preventing further victimization. I also sincerely thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Michigan for their indispensable partnership in ensuring Mr. Clay is held accountable for his crimes.”
Preventing and deterring human trafficking remains a high priority for the U.S. Department of Justice. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling (888) 373-7888 or by texting “INFO” to 233733. Information is also available on the hotline website: https://humantraffickinghotline.org. The Department of Justice previously unveiled its National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, as announced in a February 1, 2022 press release.
The case was investigated by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, Kentwood Police Department, Forsythe Police Department, Cheboygan Sheriff’s Office, Tuscarora Township Police Department, the Michigan State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Constance Turnbull.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
Other DOJ programs and initiatives for guidance https://www.justice.gov/our-work.
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Grand Junction Man Sentenced to 71 Months in Federal Prison and 48 Months in State Prison in Connection with Fentanyl Overdose Death of A MinorRead the Press Release
GRAND JUNCTION – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the 21st Judicial District of Colorado announce that Nathanial Matheny, 23, of Grand Junction, was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and to 48 months in state prison after pleading guilty to one count of removing human remains. The sentences will be served concurrently.
According to the federal plea agreement, on May 20, 2021, Grand Junction Police responded to a call about a young woman who was not breathing in an area home. When they arrived, police found an unresponsive minor victim. Toxicology reports attributed the minor’s death to an overdose of fentanyl. The investigation led to Matheny, who admitted to doing drugs with the minor and taking her body back to her home after she overdosed.
“This is a tragic story of a young person whose life was cut short because of fentanyl,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “Coloradans need to know that this is a serious problem in our communities and that our office is working hard to prosecute people who are distributing fentanyl in our state.”
“Justice was delivered for the victim of this terrible tragedy,” said Dan Rubinstein, District Attorney for the 21st Judicial District of Colorado. “I hope these sentences send a message that fentanyl crimes have extremely serious consequences.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) helped bring justice to a young woman and her family. I am extremely proud of the investigative team who meticulously pieced this investigation together from the smallest of details and delivered a comprehensive account of the victim’s final hours which helped hold the defendant accountable for his actions,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen.
“The sentencing of Nathanial Matheny underscores the commitment and dedication of law enforcement to protecting our communities, especially its youngest and most vulnerable members, from dangerous drugs,” said Grand Junction Police Department Chief Matt Smith. “Our department is grateful for the collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in this ongoing fight against the devastating impact of dangerous drugs on our communities.”
United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the federal sentencing. Mesa County District Court Chief Judge Brian Flynn presided over the state sentencing. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Grand Junction Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter Hautzinger.
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00257-GPG
Grand Forks County Assistant State’s Attorney sworn in as special federal prosecutor under Violence Against Women ActRead the Press Release
Appointment comes in the wake of U.S. Justice Department designation of Grand Forks as a jurisdiction of focus under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act, prioritizing firearms prosecutions of domestic violence offenders
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider and Grand Forks County State’s Attorney Haley Wamstad today announced that Assistant State’s Attorney Rachel Egstad has been sworn in as a Special Assistant United States Attorney under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). As a VAWA SAUSA, Egstad will focus on reducing intimate partner firearm violence in the Grand Forks area by bringing prosecutions in federal district court under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) while continuing to work full-time as a state prosecutor.
“We are grateful to the Grand Forks County State’s Attorney’s Office for their partnership and commitment to working across jurisdictional lines to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and hold offenders accountable,” Schneider said. “Having an experienced state prosecutor on the ground in Grand Forks working with law enforcement and community partners to develop cases and target dangerous individuals for federal prosecution will protect families and help keep the community safe.”
“Our office appreciates the opportunity to utilize and leverage federal resources in seeking justice for victims of intimate partner violence in our jurisdiction,” said Wamstad. “This multi-agency collaboration will be beneficial in identifying, investigating, and holding accountable the most lethal offenders of intimate partner gun violence in our communities.”
"We are committed to tackling the dangerous intersection of domestic violence and illegal firearms possession in partnership with our local, state, and federal counterparts," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the St. Paul Field Division. "As the primary federal agency responsible for investigating firearms crimes, ATF's expertise is vital in ensuring that violent offenders are barred from possessing weapons and that victims of domestic violence are safeguarded. We are also pleased to welcome Assistant State’s Attorney Rachel Egstad as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to strengthen this important effort."
“We’re thrilled to partner with the US Attorney’s Office and Ms. Egstad, an experienced prosecutor, on this new appointment,” said Coiya Tompkins Inman, president/CEO of the Community Violence Intervention Center. “It provides powerful tools for our legal and law enforcement partners and enhances safety for survivors whose intimate partners may possess firearms illegally. We’re so fortunate to have strong, long-standing partnerships like this that make our holistic approach to ending interpersonal violence possible.”
Egstad’s appointment as VAWA SAUSA follows the United States Department of Justice’s recent designation of Grand Forks as a jurisdiction of focus to address intimate partner firearm violence pursuant to Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. Grand Forks was one of 78 communities nationwide to receive the designation.
The Justice Department, through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions, is partnering with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms.
Following Grand Forks’ designation, the USAO, ATF, Grand Forks County State’s Attorney’s Office, Grand Forks Police Department, Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office, and Community Violence Intervention Center met to discuss implementation of this initiative. Egstad will work closely with those entities to guide investigations and ultimately bring prosecutions against domestic violence offenders who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
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Gang Member Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for RacketeeringRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang was sentenced today to 336 months in prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Elijah Williams, aka “Lil Smith,” 24, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to a superseding indictment that charged him with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy.
“Elijah Williams brazenly shot multiple rival gang members, murdering one, paralyzing another, and leaving a trail of blood. Gang shootings jeopardize the safety of innocent residents in our communities and make the public less safe. The sentence handed down today ensures that Williams will spend decades behind bars, away from the streets he terrorized. This result was achieved through the hard work of many law enforcement partners in our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, and we will continue our laser focus on battling the scourge of drugs and violence on our streets.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
“Drug trafficking can be a dangerous and violent game, often entangled with the deadly consequences,” Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the DEA New Jersey Field Division said. “Today’s sentencing of Elijah Williams, who repeatedly used violence when operating his criminal enterprise, shows the commitment the DEA and our law enforcement partners have when making sure those responsible for these types of violent crimes face the consequences for their actions.”
“The investigation and prosecution of this individual as well as the sentence imposed illustrates the seriousness of this crime,” Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr. said. “ATF is dedicated to working with our federal, state, and local partners to hold violent offenders accountable, make a collaborative impact, and secure the safety of our communities.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2015 through Sept. 22, 2022, Williams was a member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips, a criminal enterprise responsible for acts of violence and the distribution of controlled substances in the District of New Jersey and elsewhere. On Sept. 25, 2018, in Newark, Williams attempted to murder rival gang members and associates by shooting at four individuals, one of whom was paralyzed. On March 20, 2019, in Irvington, New Jersey, Williams fatally shot another person, in retaliation for the murder of a member and associate of the Rollin’ 60s.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Williams to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ortiz; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; special agents of ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheeks; investigators of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos; the Irvington Police Department, under the direction of Police Division Director Tracy Bowers; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda; the Bloomfield Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Samuel A. DeMaio; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura; the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief Phyllis L. Bindi; the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Earl J. Graves; the Edison Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Tom Bryan; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Philip Corbisiero; and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Fugitive and Missing Person Task Force, which includes members of the FBI, with the investigations leading to the charges in the Rollin 60’s Neighborhood Crips investigation.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. 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 government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francesca Liquori of the Special Prosecutions Division and Jake Nasar of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Fulton County Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Michael B. Golden, age 35, of Fulton County, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Golden possessed with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of a substance and mixture containing methamphetamine on December 20, 2023 and January 27, 2024. The indictment further alleges Golden possessed three semi-automatic pistols in furtherance of the drug trafficking and possessed those firearms after he was convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Dukes is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is a life term of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Former Florissant Police Officer Accused of Searching 20 Women’s PhonesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former Florissant, Missouri police officer was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday and accused of unlawfully searching 20 women’s cell phones to find nude pictures.
The grand jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis indicted Julian Alcala, 29, with one count of destroying records in a federal investigation and 20 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.
The indictment accuses Alcala of searching the cell phones of the 20 women between Feb. 6, 2024, and May 18, 2024. Alcala took possession of their cell phones under the auspices of confirming their insurance coverage or vehicle registration, searched the phones for nude pictures and then took photos of the pictures with his personal cell phone, the indictment alleges. The indictment also says Alcala found a video on one victim’s phone and texted that video to his phone before attempting to delete evidence of the text.
Alcala is the second former law enforcement officer to be indicted on similar charges this week.
David McKnight, 39, was indicted Tuesday by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau with one count of destroying records in a federal investigation and nine counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. The indictment accuses McKnight of searching the cell phones of nine women between Sept. 1, 2023, and August 19, 2024.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“If you feel uncomfortable about your encounter with law enforcement, please don’t hesitate to go to that department after the fact to report what happened,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley T. Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. “If you feel your civil rights have been violated, contact the FBI. Investigating criminal conduct by a law enforcement officer is among our top priorities."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or via tips.fbi.gov.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.
Former D.C. Public Official Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Wendy Nicole Villatoro, 40, formerly of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud, for a scheme to submit fraudulent applications seeking money from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that netted her $844,000.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Eastern Region.
Villatoro, a former D.C. Homeland Security Commissioner and current employee with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pleaded guilty to bank fraud in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Honorable Carl J. Nichols scheduled a sentencing hearing for February 28, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, between March 31, 2020, and August 4, 2021, Villatoro submitted eight PPP loan applications with various financial institutions and 15 Economic Injury Disaster (EID) loans with the Small Business Administration (SBA), all of which contained materially false statements. In order to get money from PPP lenders or the SBA,
Villatoro submitted loans on behalf of fake businesses and inflated the number of employees, the average monthly payroll, the gross yearly revenue, or the cost of goods sold. In doing so, she tried to steal between $2.6 million and $5.5 million. While most of Villatoro’s loan applications were denied, she successfully secured over $844,000 in PPP and EID funds. Villatoro used the funds to pay off her student loans, pay off the car loan on a BMW SUV, and buy luxury items.
Villatoro faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of not more than $1,000,000. The statutory sentences for federal offenses are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. Any sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
As part of her plea agreement, Villatoro has agreed to pay $844,415.24 in restitution to the U.S. Government and to forfeit items purchased with proceeds of the offense, including over 70 pieces of designer clothing and jewelry and a BMW SUV.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allowed qualifying small-businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds were required be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allowed the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spent the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and used at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
The EIDL program was designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that were experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds were intended for a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtained a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds were not to be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.
The case was investigated jointly by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, USDA-OIG, and SBA-OIG. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Asset Forfeiture Unit. In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case from USDA-OIG and SBA-OIG.
“This investigation and prosecution should send a strong zero-tolerance message to those individuals, especially government employees, who explicitly apply for aid to exploit taxpayer funded pandemic relief programs,” said USDA-OIG Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker. “We appreciate the partnership with our federal partners in pursuing this type of fraud and holding these bad actors to account in this great time of need.”
“This is a case of an individual exploiting pandemic relief programs for personal gain, diverting critical funds meant to help small businesses in need,” said SBA-OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite. “Our office remains committed to holding accountable those who engage in fraud and abuse these vital resources. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in bringing this case to justice.”
This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared English, Paul V. Courtney, Connor Mullin, Anna Forgie, and Rick Blaylock, Jr.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Former Church Records and Finance Manager Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling over $875,000Read the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Heather Darrey (45, Tampa) to 27 months in federal prison for wire fraud. As part of her sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $875,323.19, the proceeds of her criminal scheme. Darrey pleaded guilty on June 6, 2024.
According to court documents, Darrey worked as the Records and Finance Manager at Church #1. Darrey abused her position of trust by engaging in a scheme in which she created false and fraudulent bank checks drawn against Church #1’s business bank account and made them payable to her own account, as well as to her mortgage company, creditors, and others. Darrey also input false and fraudulent data into Church #1’s accounting software system to conceal her theft. The investigation revealed that Darrey stole $875,323.19, which she largely spent on mortgage payments, car and boat loans, and credit card bills for clothing, restaurants, vacations, and concert tickets.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo, Suzanne Nebesky, and Jordan Howard.
Florida Resident Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A resident of Florida was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jason Kronick, 51, of Boca Raton, Florida, formerly of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, was convicted on June 26, 2024, by a federal jury of four counts of tax evasion following a trial before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton, who imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
From 2010 through 2017, Kronick evaded payment of more than $8.6 million in income and employment taxes, including penalties and interest, despite having earned more than $20 million in taxable income. Kronick also collected approximately $200,000 in payroll taxes from employees of his company, but failed to remit those withholdings to the IRS and evaded his obligation to do so. Kronick evaded these taxes by, among other things, using approximately $1.8 million from accounts controlled by him to buy more than 40 luxury watches; spending more than $4.7 million to pay for home renovations and interior decorating; transferring more than $1.8 million, including funds originating from business accounts, to various casinos, where he converted the money to chips, gambled, and then redeemed chips for approximately $1.8 million in cash; and cashed approximately $159,000 in checks at check-cashing businesses to conceal his income and assets from the IRS.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Kronick to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $10.27 million in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to the conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachelle M. Navarro and Christopher Fell of the Criminal Division in Newark.
Final defendant in Augusta-area meth-trafficking operation found guilty in jury trialRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: The tenth defendant charged in an Augusta-area drug trafficking conspiracy has been found guilty at trial, representing the final defendant in the case with all others currently serving prison terms.
Donnie Skillman, 47, of Augusta, faces up to life in federal prison after his conviction on methamphetamine-trafficking and firearms possession charges, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“All 10 defendants in this drug-trafficking network are now being held accountable for distributing dangerous, addictive drugs in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We applaud the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners in identifying and eliminating this threat to the safety of our neighborhoods.”
After a two-day trial in U.S. District Court, the jury found Skillman guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number.
Skillman was one of 10 defendants charged in USA v. Walters et al., an indictment unsealed in December 2023 identifying a major methamphetamine trafficking operation distributing drugs throughout the Augusta area. The other nine defendants are serving federal prison sentences after pleading guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy charges, including:
- Edward Jake Walters, a/k/a “State Farm,” a/k/a “Jake from State Farm,” 30, of Grovetown, Ga., sentenced to 87 months in prison and fined $1,500;
- Phillip Smith, 50, of Augusta, sentenced to 156 months in prison and fined $1,500;
- Dustin Bayles, 36, of Thomson, Ga., sentenced to 135 months in prison and fined $1,500;
- Glen Taylor, 43, of Beech Island, S.C., sentenced to 37 months in prison and fined $1,500;
- Linda Campbell, 54, of Augusta, sentenced to 68 months in prison and fined $1,000;
- Joshua Wasden, 36, of Thomson, Ga., sentenced to 120 months in prison and fined $2,000;
- Brian Hilliard, 41, of Augusta, sentenced to 108 months in prison and fined $2,500;
- Gary Holcomb, 61, of Martinez, Ga., sentenced to 188 months in prison and fined $2,000; and,
- Destiny Poole, 24, of Grovetown, Ga., sentenced to 87 months in prison and fined $1,500.
Smith, Hilliard and Holcomb also pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing for Skillman upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
“Guns, drugs, and violence are unfortunately all too common tools of the drug dealers operating in our communities,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Division. “This verdict demonstrates DEA’s emphatic commitment to dismantling these dangerous drug trafficking organizations.”
“Our priority is to ensure that individuals who endanger public safety through drug trafficking and illegal gun possession are brought to justice,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “This successful prosecution is a testament to the hard work and collaboration of all agencies involved in this investigation.”
“The conviction in this extensive methamphetamine trafficking operation underscores our commitment to dismantling dangerous criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our communities,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey. “This case is a testament to the tireless efforts and the unwavering resolve of our law enforcement partners to hold criminals accountable and protect our neighborhoods from the devastating impact of illegal drugs.”
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office; the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office; and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Kelsey L. Scanlon.