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13 September 2024
Arizona Man Indicted for Offenses Involving Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Thursday, charging Anthony Dalton Wolff, 42, of Surprise, Arizona, with distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and attempted coercion and enticement, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between March 16, 2023, and July 30, 2024, Wolff met and then communicated with an undercover federal agent on a forum on the dark web dedicated to discussion of child sexual abuse. The undercover agent had established a profile for a mother with a seven-year-old daughter. Wolff contacted the agent and immediately stated that he had a long-standing sexual interest in girls, and he hoped to have a sexual relationship with the agent and her purported daughter. Wolff moved the communications to Telegram, a fully encrypted application that does not cooperate with law enforcement, and frequently sent videos of himself while viewing and commenting on some of his favorite child exploitation videos. He planned to meet the agent and her daughter in California and described in graphic detail how he wanted to sexually abuse the girl and to have another child with the mother so he could sexually abuse that child.
On Aug. 28, 2024, federal agents served a search warrant at Wolff’s residence and seized the devices that had been used to commit the charged offenses. A federal magistrate judge in Phoenix, Arizona, ordered Wolff detained as a danger to the community, and he will appear before a magistrate judge in Fresno as soon as he arrives in the Eastern District of California.
Law enforcement believes there may be additional victims in this case and urges anyone with information to come forward by calling the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's (NCMEC) website.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, principally Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the distribution count, Wolff faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted of the attempted coercion count, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to a maximum of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Appling County man sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of childrenRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: An Appling County man has been sentenced to more than 23 years in federal prison for attempting to coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Todd Eric Sisk, 50, of Baxley, Ga., was sentenced to 280 months in prison after pleading guilty to Attempted Production of Child Pornography, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Sisk to pay $10,600 in restitution and assessments, to register as a sex offender, and to serve 15 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Predators regularly use the internet to prey on our most vulnerable citizens, and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to identify and eliminate these threats,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We are committed to keeping our children safe from those who would exploit them.”
During a November 2021 undercover online operation, investigators from the Walton County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office identified Sisk as using apps to communicate with minors. The investigators contacted Homeland Security Investigations in Savannah for assistance.
As described in the plea agreement, investigators determined that Sisk paid a user on Twitter, whom he believed to be 13 years old, to produce a video of herself engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He also attempted to persuade at least four other self-identified minors to produce sexually explicit images.
“The defendant’s attempts to sexually exploit minors was thankfully unsuccessful and he is being held accountable for this predatory behavior,” said Steven N. Schrank, acting special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta that covers Georgia and Alabama. “Today’s sentencing is the result of the dedicated work of HSI and its law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to protect children from exploitation.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Walton County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Baxley Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. Blanchard.
12 KC-Area Men Indicted for Fentanyl Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A dozen Kansas City metropolitan area men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in at least one death, and to illegally possessing firearms.
Justin D. Rivera, also known as “JD,” 20, Yael Figueroa, also known as “Grit,” 23, Jose R. Lugo, Jr., also known as “El Wey,” 20, Aaron Contreras-Jaquez, also known as “Van Kleefy,” 24, Jose Lorenzo-Medina, 24, and Antonio R. Baeza-Brown, also known as “Tony,” 25, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Simon L. Figueroa, 26, and Jonathan Gonzales, 25, both citizens of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo.; Luis Calvillo-Ortiz, also known as “Loc,” 19, of Independence, Mo.; and Marcos Favian Alvarado, also known as “Baby Face,” 20, Chad B. Green, also known as “Gso Yad,” 24, and Crencio Carbajal-Loya, 18, all of Kansas City, Kansas, were charged in a 35-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
The federal indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of several defendants.
Three residential search warrants also were executed today. Law enforcement officers seized 6,738 fentanyl pills, 11 firearms, including a machinegun, five stolen automobiles, and more than $75,000 in cash.
The federal indictment alleges that all 12 of the defendants have participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl since Dec. 1, 2022. The indictment also alleges that all 12 of the defendants have participated in a conspiracy to use and carry firearms in relation to that drug-trafficking conspiracy.
In addition to the drug-trafficking and firearms conspiracies, Rivera is charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a victim identified as “M.M.” on May 7, 2023. Rivera is also charged with eight counts of distributing fentanyl, three counts of using and carrying firearms during a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of using and carrying a machine gun during a drug-trafficking crime.
Alvarado is also charged with one count of distributing fentanyl, one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.
Yael Figueroa is also charged with four counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.
Medina is also charged with four counts of distributing fentanyl.
Contreras-Jaquez is also charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl and two counts of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
Calvillo-Ortiz, Gonzales, and Simon Figueroa each are also charged with one count of distributing fentanyl.
The charges contained in this indictment 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 Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Belton, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Cass County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case 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.
12 September 2024
West Point man sentenced to prison for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – A West Point man was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Quishaun Bennett, 36, previously pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Bennett to 120 months in prison following his drug trafficking conviction. Upon release from prison, Bennett will serve a three-year term of supervised release. Bennett was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals after sentencing.
“Those individuals who choose to sell illicit drugs like methamphetamine in our communities need to know that we will not only prosecute them for their illegal acts, but we will also seek significant sentences to remove them from the drug trade and from the communities that they are irreparably harming,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner.
“Methamphetamine brings turmoil into the lives of those who are addicted to or live around it. The Drug Enforcement Administration, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to attack the scourge of methamphetamine distribution in the Northern District of Mississippi and beyond,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa McDaniels-McCaw. “The lengthy sentencing of this individual should be a warning to those who want to sell drugs. We are going to catch you and put you in prison for a long time if you distribute this poison in our communities.”
"Illicit drugs have no place on Mississippi streets,” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “Our thanks go out to all involved for their dedication to investigating, prosecuting, and sentencing these cases appropriately, sending a clear message that drug trafficking has no place in our state. Outstanding work by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and all supporting agencies in this case, ensuring the continued safety of our communities."
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program in partnership with state and local law enforcement. Other agencies assisting with the investigation included the U.S. Marshal’s Service, FBI and the Clay County’s Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.
This investigation and resulting case 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.
Wasilla man charged with carjacking, discharging a firearm during 2023 Wasilla shootingRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Wasilla man with carjacking and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in January 2023.
According to federal and state court documents, the victim in this case purchased a car that had once belonged to Peter Henry Boyer, 51, from a private seller. Boyer believed that the car had been stolen from him and was able to identify the victim as the new owner. After threatening the victim’s parents via social media, he found her in the car about to leave a residence in Wasilla on January 3, 2024. Boyer allegedly forced the victim out of the car at gunpoint, shot her in the leg and drove away in the vehicle.
Boyer is charged with one count of carjacking and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The defendant made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais and Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes made the announcement.
The ATF Anchorage Field Office and the Alaska State Troopers are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Klugman is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Washington, D.C. Man and Berkeley County Man Sentenced for Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men were sentenced for firearms violations in the Eastern Panhandle.
Kevin Nicholas Munroe, 32, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm and interstate violation of a protection order. According to court documents, West Virginia State Police were investigating a shooting that led to Munroe, who had an active domestic violence protective order against him filed in Los Angeles, California. Munroe, who is prohibited from having firearms, was located in Martinsburg and was in possession of a .45 caliber revolver.
Following his prison sentence, Munroe will serve three years of supervised release. \
Mario Adonte Crawley, 52, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, a search of Crawley’s vehicle during a traffic stop in Kearneysville, West Virginia, uncovered a 9mm loaded handgun. Crawley is prohibited from having firearms because of prior convictions of assault, obstructing justice, and armed robbery in Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Crawley will serve 3 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Kane and Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. District Court Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Waltham Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Waltham man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Robert Daigle, 48 was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 71 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In June 2024, Daigle pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.
On Jan. 11, 2022, approximately 10 electronic devices belonging to the Daigle were seized during a search of his residence. The majority of those devices were located in Daigle’s bedroom. Daigle admitted to downloading hundreds to thousands of CSAM for approximately 20 years. A forensic examination of one device was found to have approximately 1,100 child pornography images and approximately 900 child pornography videos. A second device was found to have approximately 380 child pornography images.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Waltham Police Chief Kevin O’Connell made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
United States Attorney’s Office Hosts United Against Hate Event in MarshalltownRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa will host a public outreach event focused on identifying and reporting hate crimes on Thursday, September 12 at 1:00 p.m. at the Marshalltown Public Library, located at 105 West Boone Street, Marshalltown, Iowa.
United Against Hate is a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating unlawful acts of hate by educating the public about federal hate crimes and anti-discrimination statutes. The program encourages the reporting of hate crimes, hate incidents, and unlawful discrimination to a local, county, and/or state law enforcement agency and the Department of Justice.
“Hate crimes and hate incidents are traumatic for not only victims and their families, but also for the communities in which they occur. These crimes are a high priority for our office. Hate can divide us. But a community that unites behind the goals of holding these individuals accountable, and providing support, understanding and active listening, can lessen both the risk and the impact of these crimes,” said United States Attorney Rich Westphal. “We are looking forward to hearing from the panel about the importance of reporting hate crimes and from the audience about how these issues impact them personally and impact their entire community.”
The United Against Hate event will include an interactive panel discussion with representatives from the Marshalltown Police Department, the Marshall County Attorney’s office, and Child Adolescent and Parent Support, a Marshalltown-based nonprofit.
To report a hate crime to the FBI, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI, submit a tip at https://tips.fbi.gov/home or contact your local field office.
Civil rights violations occurring in the Southern District of Iowa can be report to the U.S. Attorney’s Office using the complaint form located at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/civil-rights or the U.S. Department of Justice at https://civilrights.justice.gov.
U.S. Citizens Convicted of Conspiring to Act as Illegal Agents of the Russian GovernmentRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – A jury today found Omali Yeshitela, 82, of St. Louis, Missouri, Penny Hess, 78, of St. Louis, Missouri, Jesse Nevel, 34, of St. Louis, Missouri and Augustus C. Romain, Jr., 38, of Atlanta, Georgia, guilty of conspiracy to act as agents of a foreign government. Each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. The defendants were charged in a superseding indictment on April 13, 2023.
According to evidence presented at trial, from at least May 2015 until July 2022, Yeshitela, Hess and Nevel agreed to act on behalf of the Russian government within the United States. Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, a resident of Moscow, was the founder and president of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia (AGMR), an organization headquartered in Moscow, Russia, and funded by the Russian government. Omali Yeshitela, Penny Hess and Jesse Nevel were leaders of the African People’s Socialist Party or components thereof (APSP). Augustus C. Romain was a high-level leader of the APSP who, in November 2018, left and formed a Georgia-based group called the Black Hammer. Ionov’s influence efforts were directed and supervised by Moscow-based Federal Security Service (FSB) officers, including indicted defendants Aleksey Borisovich Sukhodolov and Yegor Sergeyevich Popov.
In May 2015, Ionov invited Yeshitela to Russia for an all-expenses paid trip to “communicate on future cooperation.” Prior to this trip, Hess relayed a request to Ionov to ensure that Yeshitela would be able to meet with an “official representative of the Russian government.” According to subsequent email communications, which were shared with Hess, Nevel and Romain, Yeshitela explained that it was “clear” that Ionov was an instrument of the Russian government. In these same communications, Yeshitela further explained that Ionov represented “a method by which the Russian government is engaging the U.S. and Europe in serious struggle” by utilizing “forces inside of the U.S. to s[o]w division inside the U.S.” In a subsequent meeting, at which Hess and Nevel were present, Yeshitela explained that Ionov would only provide resources for actions that would support Russia’s efforts to “undermin[e] the U.S.”
Acting under Ionov’s direction, the defendants took several actions within the United States. For example, in August 2015, Ionov requested that Yeshitela, Hess and Nevel draft and publish a petition to the United Nations charging the United States with actively committing genocide against African people. When Hess resisted, Ionov insisted that the APSP had to publish the petition because Ionov and his Russian backers were “not exactly Black to demand it for ourselves.” Hess subsequently drafted and published the requested petition, which Ionov promoted in Russian media.
In January 2016, Ionov provided a $12,000 guarantee letter to fund a four-city tour to promote the genocide petition that the APSP had published at his direction. Yeshitela and Hess oversaw the tour and reported information about the tour to Ionov. After the tour, Yeshitela explained in an APSP meeting that the APSP had “developed a relationship with forces in Russia who are involved in their own struggle with the US.”
In 2017, and again in 2019, Ionov attempted to influence local elections in St. Petersburg, Florida, on behalf of the FSB, although there is no evidence that he succeeded in doing so. For example, in July 2017, Ionov reached out to Nevel —who was a candidate for Mayor in St. Petersburg — to offer support, including “campaign finance.” In 2019, Ionov regularly reported to the FSB concerning an election for local office in St. Petersburg, referring to one candidate as the candidate “whom we supervise.” And, in January 2020, FSB Officer Popov directed Ionov that the United States’ 2020 Presidential election was the FSB’s “main topic of the year.”
In April 2020, Ionov invited Nevel and Yeshitela to speak at a conference to promote the right of self-determination for Russian-backed secessionist movements in eastern Ukraine. Shortly thereafter, Yeshitela provided a video-recorded statement of support for the Russian-backed secessionist group. Ionov reported to the FSB concerning these activities.
In late February 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ionov complained to FSB Officer Sukhodolov concerning Russia’s failure in the information war surrounding the invasion. Sukhodolov directed Ionov to “join in” in the information war. Ionov then directed Yeshitela and Romain to engage in demonstrations at a social media company headquarters in California to demonstrate against suppression of pro-Russian viewpoints. Ionov paid for Romain and three other members of Black Hammer to fly to California to conduct the demonstration, and Yeshitela directed members of the APSP located in California to conduct a similar protest a few days later. After the Black Hammer demonstration, Romain messaged Ionov: “This is great! That was fun! Who we attacking next? With more time I can get a bigger crowd.”
In May 2022, at Ionov’s direction, Romain demonstrated at a media company in Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate Russia’s “Victory Day.” In June 2022, at Ionov’s direction, Romain demonstrated at the Georgia state capitol in support of Russia. During the demonstration, Romain stated that he was “not ashamed to say that the Black Hammer Party has relationships with the Kremlin,” in reference to Ionov.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI National Security Branch made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Risha Asokan for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the Justice Department’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Citizens Convicted of Conspiring to Act as Illegal Agents of the Russian GovernmentRead the Press Release
A jury today convicted Omali Yeshitela, 82, Penny Hess, 78, Jesse Nevel, 34, all of St. Louis, and Augustus C. Romain Jr., 38, of Atlanta, of conspiracy to act as agents of a foreign government. The defendants were charged in a superseding indictment on April 13, 2023.
According to evidence presented at trial, from at least May 2015 until July 2022, Yeshitela, Hess and Nevel agreed to act on behalf of the Russian government within the United States. Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, a resident of Moscow, was the founder and president of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia (AGMR), an organization headquartered in Moscow, Russia, and funded by the Russian government. Omali Yeshitela, Penny Hess and Jesse Nevel were leaders of the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP) or components thereof. Augustus C. Romain was a high-level leader of the APSP who, in November 2018, left and formed a Georgia-based group called the Black Hammer. Ionov’s influence efforts were directed and supervised by Moscow-based Federal Security Service (FSB) officers, including indicted defendants Aleksey Borisovich Sukhodolov and Yegor Sergeyevich Popov.
In May 2015, Ionov invited Yeshitela to Russia for an all-expenses paid trip to “communicate on future cooperation.” Prior to this trip, Hess relayed a request to Ionov to ensure that Yeshitela would be able to meet with an “official representative of the Russian government.” According to subsequent email communications, which were shared with Hess, Nevel and Romain, Yeshitela explained that it was “clear” that Ionov was an instrument of the Russian government. In these same communications, Yeshitela further explained that Ionov represented “a method by which the Russian government is engaging the U.S. and Europe in serious struggle” by utilizing “forces inside of the U.S. to s[o]w division inside the U.S.” In a subsequent meeting, at which Hess and Nevel were present, Yeshitela explained that Ionov would only provide resources for actions that would support Russia’s efforts to “undermin[e] the U.S.”
Acting under Ionov’s direction, the defendants took several actions within the United States. For example, in August 2015, Ionov requested that Yeshitela, Hess and Nevel draft and publish a petition to the United Nations charging the United States with actively committing genocide against African people. When Hess resisted, Ionov insisted that the APSP had to publish the petition because Ionov and his Russian backers were “not exactly Black to demand it for ourselves.” Hess subsequently drafted and published the requested petition, which Ionov promoted in Russian media.
In January 2016, Ionov provided a $12,000 guarantee letter to fund a four-city tour to promote the genocide petition that the APSP had published at his direction. Yeshitela and Hess oversaw the tour and reported information about the tour to Ionov. After the tour, Yeshitela explained in an APSP meeting that the APSP had “developed a relationship with forces in Russia who are involved in their own struggle with the US.”
In 2017, and again in 2019, Ionov attempted to influence local elections in St. Petersburg, Florida, on behalf of the FSB, although there is no evidence that he succeeded in doing so. For example, in July 2017, Ionov reached out to Nevel —who was a candidate for Mayor in St. Petersburg — to offer support, including “campaign finance.” In 2019, Ionov regularly reported to the FSB concerning an election for local office in St. Petersburg, referring to one candidate as the candidate “whom we supervise.” And, in January 2020, FSB Officer Popov directed Ionov that the United States’ 2020 Presidential election was the FSB’s “main topic of the year.”
In April 2020, Ionov invited Nevel and Yeshitela to speak at a conference to promote the right of self-determination for Russian-backed secessionist movements in eastern Ukraine. Shortly thereafter, Yeshitela provided a video-recorded statement of support for the Russian-backed secessionist group. Ionov reported to the FSB concerning these activities.
In late February 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ionov complained to FSB Officer Sukhodolov concerning Russia’s failure in the information war surrounding the invasion. Sukhodolov directed Ionov to “join in” in the information war. Ionov then directed Yeshitela and Romain to engage in demonstrations at a social media company headquarters in California to demonstrate against suppression of pro-Russian viewpoints. Ionov paid for Romain and three other members of Black Hammer to fly to California to conduct the demonstration, and Yeshitela directed members of the APSP located in California to conduct a similar protest a few days later. After the Black Hammer demonstration, Romain messaged Ionov: “This is great! That was fun! Who we attacking next? With more time I can get a bigger crowd.”
In May 2022, at Ionov’s direction, Romain demonstrated at a media company in Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate Russia’s “Victory Day.” In June 2022, at Ionov’s direction, Romain demonstrated at the Georgia state capitol in support of Russia. During the demonstration, Romain stated that he was “not ashamed to say that the Black Hammer Party has relationships with the Kremlin,” in reference to Ionov.
Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI National Security Branch made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Risha Asokan for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles Disability Discrimination Allegations with the Allergy and Asthma Center in RochesterRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A settlement agreement has been reached with the Allergy and Asthma Center (“the Center”) in Rochester to resolve allegations that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
“The ADA ensures that persons with disabilities can live their life free of discrimination,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The ADA’s requirement that public accommodations provide the necessary auxiliary aids and services to ensure that communication is effective protects individuals’ independence and freedom of choice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to use every resource and tool available to us to enforce the ADA and protect the rights of Granite Staters.”
The agreement resolves a complaint referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office that the Center discriminated against a parent, who is deaf. According to the complainant, the Center canceled a child’s scheduled medical appointment after learning that the complainant, who planned to accompany their child to the appointment, would require a qualified ASL interpreter or similar accommodation for effective communication. The Center’s failure to timely accommodate the complainant resulted in an appreciable delay in care for the child after the complainant had to seek treatment for the child at a different provider.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Center has agreed to adopt new ADA policies and practices regarding effective communication and securing qualified interpreters for patients; train its staff on these policies; track future requests for auxiliary aids or services; and cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure ongoing compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement. Additionally, the Center has agreed to pay compensatory damages to the complainant and their child.
Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in places of public accommodation, including medical clinics. It requires places of public accommodation to provide the necessary auxiliary aids and services to ensure that communication is effective. Such aids and services can include ASL interpreters for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and must be paid for by the place of public accommodation.
The Center fully cooperated with the government’s investigation.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo.
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that a place of public accommodation or public entity in New Hampshire is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (603) 225-1552 or through the Civil Rights Public Complaint Form found here. For more information on the ADA, visit www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).
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Two Miramar Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Robbery of A U.S. Postal Service Mail CarrierRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Christopher Raymond (20, Miramar) to nine years in federal prison and Andre Hylton (20, Miramar) to eight years in federal prison for committing an armed robbery of a postal carrier and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to that crime. The court also ordered Raymond and Hylton to forfeit a Glock 23 firearm and assorted ammunition, which were involved in the commission of the offense. Raymond and Hylton entered guilty pleas in May 2024.
According to court documents, on September 21, 2023, Raymond and Hylton traveled to Tampa in a rental vehicle. Around 3:40 p.m. that day, they spotted a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier who was delivering mail outside of his truck. Raymond entered the USPS truck, stole the keys from inside, and fled in the rental vehicle driven by Hylton. Later, around 4:30 p.m., they encountered another mail carrier delivering mail approximately one mile away from the earlier theft. Raymond approached the mail carrier, pulled a firearm from his waistband, and pointed it at the mail carrier. Raymond demanded USPS serialized keys (master keys that can be used to open several USPS mailboxes). The mail carrier handed two serialized keys to Raymond, who then ran into the vehicle driven by Hylton, and they fled the area.
The next day, police in Miramar encountered the rental vehicle, which Raymond was now driving, and conducted a traffic stop. Police searched the car and found a Glock 23 firearm with an extended magazine loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition, a general USPS key (not a serialized key), a black ski mask, and mail.
“The sentencing of these two individuals demonstrates the commitment of the United States Postal Inspection Service to the safety of Postal Service employees and customers,” said Miami Division Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas. “However, our work is not done, we will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer by continuing to arrest those accountable for these crimes.”
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Tampa Police Department, the Miramar Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilyssa M. Spergel and Ross Roberts.
Two MPD Officers Sentenced for 2020 Murder of Karon Hylton-Brown and Subsequent CoverupRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON -- Terence D. Sutton Jr., 40, a Fourth District police officer, was sentenced today to 66 months in prison and Andrew Zabavsky, 56, an MPD lieutenant, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, in connection with an unauthorized police pursuit that ended in a collision on Oct. 23, 2020, that caused the death of Karon Hylton-Brown, 20, in Northwest Washington D.C. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office.
Sutton was found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a unanimous federal jury on December 21, 2022, following a nine-week trial, of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct, and obstruction of justice. The same jury found Zabavsky guilty of conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice. In addition to the prison terms, U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Friedman ordered each defendant to serve three years of supervised release.
“The jury in this case found the defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for their roles in the murder of Karon Hylton Brown and a related cover up, affirming that what happened here was a serious crime,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “Public safety requires public trust. Crimes like this erode that trust and are a disservice to the community and the thousands of officers who work incredibly hard, within the bounds of the Constitution, to keep us safe.”
“The FBI follows the rule of law and works to hold those accountable who violate the law, no matter who they are,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Geist. “The community and fellow law enforcement officers deserve trusted officers that do not abuse their positions of trust and power or put the public at risk. Today’s sentencings show the weight of the crimes and the significance of the criminal justice system and processes at work.”
The jury found that Sutton caused Mr. Hylton-Brown’s death by driving a police vehicle in conscious disregard for an extreme risk of death or serious bodily injury to Mr. Hylton-Brown. The jury further found that Sutton and Zabavsky conspired to hide from MPD officials the circumstances of the traffic crash leading to Mr. Hylton-Brown’s death, thereby obstructing justice.
As the evidence at trial showed, at the time of the offense, Sutton was assigned to the Crime Suppression Team in MPD’s Fourth Police District. Zabavsky supervised the Fourth Police District’s Crime Suppression Team officers, including Sutton. At about 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, officers observed Mr. Hylton-Brown, 20, driving a moped, helmetless, on a sidewalk in the Brightwood Park area of Northwest Washington. Mr. Hylton-Brown, who was unarmed, ignored Sutton’s attempt to stop him and drove off. Sutton then began chasing Mr. Hylton-Brown on neighborhood streets for minutes, over more than 10 blocks, at unreasonable speeds, and at one point proceeding the wrong way up a one-way street. In the pursuit’s final moments, Sutton followed Mr. Hylton-Brown into a narrow alley, turned off his car’s emergency lights and siren, and accelerated behind the moped. When Mr. Hylton-Brown reached the street at the mouth of the alley, he was struck by an uninvolved oncoming motorist. As Mr. Hylton-Brown lay unconscious in the street in a pool of his own blood, Sutton and Zabavsky, agreed to cover up what Sutton had done to prevent any further investigation of the incident.
Neither Sutton, as the lead officer at the scene, nor Zabavsky, the ranking MPD official, preserved the crash scene for investigators; they allowed the driver of the car that struck Hylton-Brown to leave the scene within 20 minutes of the crash. They then turned off their own body worn cameras, conferred privately, and left. Zabavsky designated no other MPD official to supervise the scene upon his own departure. Sutton further compromised the integrity of the crash scene by driving his MPD car directly over the crash site, audibly crushing pieces of debris from the collision as he left. At no point did either defendant contact MPD’s Major Crash Unit (MCU) or its Internal Affairs Division (IAD) to initiate an investigation by those units.
Sutton and Zabavsky continued the cover up back at the police station. First, they misled their commanding officer about the nature of the incident by substantially downplaying its seriousness, denying that a police chase had even occurred, and omitting any mention of Mr. Hylton-Brown’s critical injuries. Zabavsky also falsely implied that Mr. Hylton-Brown had been a drunk driver. Both defendants also hid their direct involvement in the incident, thereby avoiding the assignment of other, uninvolved MPD officials to investigate what had happened. Sutton drafted a police report that memorialized a false narrative of the incident. Despite video evidence to the contrary, his false narrative gave the impression that no police pursuit had occurred, that officers had lost sight of Mr. Hylton-Brown and were engaged in a “canvass” of him in the area until shortly before the crash, and that the officers were wholly uninvolved with the fatal collision in any way. The defendant’s account also described Mr. Hylton Brown’s observable injuries only as “superficial abrasions on [his] left eyebrow line.”
Mr. Hylton-Brown, suffering from severe head trauma, died on Oct. 25, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Two Idaho Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Separate Sex Crimes Involving Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
BOISE and POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the outcomes in two separate District of Idaho cases in which the defendants were sentenced to 24 years and over 21 years in federal prison, respectively, for sex crimes against minor children.
“Our prosecutors and victim support staff are second to none when it comes to holding child predators accountable and supporting victims on the path towards healing,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Protecting Idaho’s children is a sacred duty for my office, and we are lucky to work with so many dedicated partners in this mission.”
On September 10, 2024, Nicholas Glenn Baker 37, of Twin Falls, was sentenced to 288 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court records, on July 17, 2023, detectives with the Idaho Falls Police Department and the Idaho Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force began an investigation after receiving a report that child pornography had been uploaded to an online file storage account. Detectives determined that the account belonged to Rexanna Marie Johnston of Idaho Falls. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant on Johnston’s residence and electronic devices. Detectives discovered that Johnston had produced images of a child pornography of an infant that was in her custody. Detectives further recovered online chat communications between Johnston and Baker. In those communications Johnston and Baker discussed their sexual interests in children, and child pornography. Johnston also sent Baker child pornography images she had produced of the infant in her custody. Baker then asked for Johnston to produce additional child pornographic images of the infant and send them to him, which she did. (Johnston pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation charges on May 22, 2024, and is awaiting sentencing scheduled for November 19, 2024.) When detectives arrested Baker he admitted that he knew the infant in Johnston’s custody was a real child, that he requested Johnston produce and send him child pornography images of the infant, and that he received those images.
“Our job, as HSI special agents or in working through our many partnerships, is to protect the most vulnerable. This 288 month sentence helps to accomplish that,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Every image of child exploitation represents a life that has been altered by a child predator, and as a community we can be ever more vigilant to reduce the amount of these images that are distributed online.”
“I am continually grateful for the hard work and partnerships that enable us to successfully investigate and prosecute these horrific crimes against children,” said Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “Removing these predators from our neighborhoods is a top priority for all of us and I’m encouraged to see the courts delivering sentences that are commensurate with the crimes.”
“We are proud of the work done in this case by Idaho Falls Police Investigators and grateful for our partnerships with the US Attorney’s Office and the ICAC Taskforce,” said Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson. “This case underscores the important work being done through these partnerships – protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities and seeking justice on their behalf.”
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered that Baker serve a lifetime of supervised release following his prison sentence. Baker will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
In a separate case, Alexis Alatriste, 27, of Nampa, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court records, on January 5, 2024, a citizen reported to the Nampa Police Department that she had found videos on Alatriste’s cellphone of Alatriste sexually abusing the four-year-old victim. Investigators seized and examined Alatriste’s cellphone after obtaining a search warrant. Alatriste had deleted the explicit videos, but investigators recovered the videos using forensic tools. Investigators determined that Alatriste had used his cellphone to record the videos of himself sexually abusing the victim. Investigators also located other files of child pornography on the cellphone.
“This case is an excellent example of the importance of strong partnerships between local and federal agencies. Our teamwork successfully brought this case to a positive resolution, with Mr. Alatriste serving time in prison for this terrible crime. We’ll continue to work together to help protect our community,” said Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Alatriste to be placed on lifetime supervised release after the end of his prison term. Alatriste will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
The Baker case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Idaho ICAC Task Force. The Alatriste case was investigated by the Nampa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Paskett and Kassandra McGrady prosecuted these cases.
These cases were 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. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Tucson Man Indicted for Second-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Matthew Leyvas, 28, of Tucson, on one count of Second-Degree Murder. Leyvas is an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
The indictment alleges that, on August 8, 2024, Leyvas stabbed the victim multiple times. The victim was promptly transported to Banner University Medical Center but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
Second-Degree Murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Micah Schmit, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-5789-TUC-JCH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-121_Leyvas# # #
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.Tioga County Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Michael Young, age 43, of Elkland, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann to a term of 180 months of imprisonment for the receipt of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Young pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography on March 26, 2024. Young was previously identified by the FBI in 2022 as participating in a website that engaged in the file sharing of child pornography. After his arrest in January 2022, Young was placed on supervised release pending trial. In July 2023, Young was found to have downloaded additional images of child pornography.
This case was by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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.
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Three Defendants Charged in Alleged Nationwide Multi-Million-Dollar Illegal Import and Fraudulent Distribution ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury indicted three defendants in connection with alleged schemes to import from China, fraudulently market, and illegally transport the hazardous chemical trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), in violation of various U.S. laws and regulations.
One of the defendants, Jermoine “Jay” C. Brantley (aka Jay E. Johnson), 52, of Murrieta, Calif., was arrested Sept. 5 at his home and made an initial appearance in Los Angeles the next day. The other two defendants— Haneef Z. Saleem, 44, of New York, New York; and Brian Morris, 49, of Peoria, Ariz.—are scheduled to appear with Brantley in San Francisco before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse, on Sept. 12 to face the charges.
According to the 26-count indictment, filed Aug. 27 and unsealed Sept. 9, all three defendants conspired to commit wire fraud to convince customers and potential customers to buy the TCCA. In addition, all three defendants are charged with crimes related to the alleged transportation of the chemical from various U.S. ports to other destinations throughout the United States. Brantley and Saleem also are charged with conspiring to smuggle the TCCA into the United States, in violation of various laws and regulations.
The chemical at issue, TCCA, is a product commonly referred to in the swimming pool industry as chlorine. The indictment describes how, during the early 2020s, a domestic shortage of TCCA as well as an increase in the tariffs and duties applying to the importation of the chemical from China resulted in a dramatic increase in the price of TCCA in the United States. Brantley and Saleem allegedly took steps to smuggle the product into the country without paying applicable tariffs and duties that would have made the price of the product less competitive. In addition to the smuggling scheme, the indictment describes how all three defendants allegedly participated in a scheme to fraudulently market and sell the product and arranged to have the hazardous materials transported without the proper paperwork and precautions from U.S. ports to customers throughout the United States.
The Smuggling Conspiracy
The indictment alleges Brantley and Saleem avoided tariffs and duties when importing TCCA from China by supplying the wrong import codes to their brokers so that certain duties would not be assessed. At the time, under the applicable tariff schedule for goods imported into the United States, TCCA was subject to significant “anti-dumping” and “countervailing” duties. Brantley and Saleem allegedly avoided paying these anti-dumping and countervailing duties by supplying their brokers with code numbers that mis-identified the product, identifying it as “disinfectant” and “swimming pool disinfectant,” rather than as TCCA. According to the indictment, Brantley and Saleem caused 66 shipments of TCCA to be imported with codes that did not trigger the applicable tariffs and duties.
The Fraud Conspiracy
In addition to the smuggling conspiracy, the indictment describes several ways in which all three defendants allegedly lured customers into purchasing the imported TCCA by making false representations about the product, including false descriptions of the strength and efficacy of the product and its registration status with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the indictment, defendants represented to customers and potential customers that their product contained 99 percent TCCA, when, in fact, it had been diluted with boric acid. The indictment also alleges the defendants falsely represented that they, or their products, were “registered with the EPA.” But the defendants never properly registered with the EPA to import the chemical and attempted to avoid inspections by mislabeling their product with EPA registration numbers for a different manufacturer. The indictment alleges that customers purchased more than $3.2 million in response to the defendants’ fraudulent representations.
Improper Transportation of Product
The indictment also describes how defendants allegedly violated rules pertaining to the transportation of oxidizers and hazardous materials. Defendants’ shipments failed to contain labels identifying the TCCA as a “5.1 oxidizer” and as “hazardous material.”
In sum, the defendants are charged with the following crimes and, if convicted, face the following maximum statutory penalties:
Defendant Charge Maximum Statutory Penalties (per count) All three defendants Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1349
(one count) 20 years’ imprisonment; $1,000,000 fine; maximum 3 years’ supervised release All three defendants Wire Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1343
(four counts) 20 years’ imprisonment; $1,000,000 fine; 3 years’ supervised release Brantley and Saleem only Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods Into the United States
18 U.S.C. § 371
(one count) 5 years’ imprisonment; $250,000 fine; 3 years’ supervised release Brantley and Saleem only Smuggling Goods into the United States
18 U.S.C. § 545
(four counts) 20 years’ imprisonment; 3 years’ supervised release; $250,000 fine Brantley and Saleem only Entry of Goods Falsely Classified
18 U.S.C. § 541
(four counts) 2 years’ imprisonment; $250,000 fine; 1 year of supervised release Brantley and Saleem only Entry of Goods by Means of False Statements
18 U.S.C. § 542
(four counts) 2 years’ imprisonment; 1 year of supervised release; $250,000 fine All three defendants Distribution or Sale of Unregistered Pesticide
7 U.S.C. § 136j(a)(1)(A), (E) & 136l(b)(1)(B)
(two counts) 1 year of imprisonment; 1 year of supervised release; $50,000 fine All three defendants Distribution or Sale of Misbranded Pesticide
7 U.S.C. § 136j(a)(1)(A), (E) & 136l(b)(1)(B)
(two counts) 1 years of imprisonment; 1 years of supervised release; $250,000 fine All three defendants Violation of the Hazardous Substances Act
49 U.S.C. § 5124(c) & (d)
(four counts) 5 years’ imprisonment; 3 years’ supervised release; $250,000 fineAn indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
In addition to the penalties listed above, the defendants also may be ordered to pay restitution, if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) Special Agent-in-Charge Kim Bahney, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King, and U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General (DOT-OIG) Western Region Special Agent in Charge Cory LeGars.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Valliere with assistance from Sara Slattery and Kathy Tat. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by EPA-CID, HSI, and DOT-OIG.
Texas Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children OffensesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today, charging Thomas Henry Lopez, 49, of Spring, Texas, with two counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between June 2024 and July 2024, Lopez contacted two minors in California through TikTok and then communicated with them through text messages and the encrypted application JusTalk. Lopez purported to be a 12-year-old male from Texas and requested that the victims create and then send to him still and video images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. While communicating with the victims, Lopez sent them images of adults and minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct as well as images of himself masturbating. Investigators were able to identify Lopez by determining that he was using internet connections at his residence and at his Houston workplace, where he was the principal wells engineer for an oil and gas company, when communicating with the victims. FBI agents arrested Lopez on Sept. 3, 2024, just as he was leaving on a work-related trip to Singapore, and numerous electronic devices were recovered during a search of his residence. He will appear before a federal magistrate judge in Houston, Texas, on Sept. 13, 2024.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, principally the Kingsburg, California Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa is prosecuting the case.
If convicted Lopez, faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the counts of sexual exploitation of children, and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. If convicted of the transfer of obscene material to a minor count, Lopez faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Texarkana federal inmate sentenced for trafficking drugs in prisonRead the Press Release
TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana federal inmate has been sentenced to an additional 87 months for trafficking drugs inside the prison, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Verlan Perez, Jr., 36, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and buprenorphine and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, on September 11, 2024.
According to information presented in court, in March 2021, mail staff at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Texarkana, Texas, intercepted two incoming packages addressed to federal inmate, Verlan Perez, Jr. The packages contained buprenorphine, a controlled substance. Further investigation revealed Perez was conspiring with Rosa Solano-Olivares, to have her deliver methamphetamine into the prison, which he would then distribute to others inside the prison. On October 30, 2021, Solano-Olivares entered the FCI Texarkana to visit Perez. After she entered and exited the women’s restroom in the visitation area, prison staff conducted a search of the restroom and located a package of methamphetamine rolled in black electrical tape, a baggie of marijuana, and rolling papers. Perez was responsible for distributing 43 grams of methamphetamine in FCI Texarkana.
Perez was ordered to serve this sentence consecutively to his current federal sentence of 157 months for drug trafficking imposed on January 30, 2019, in the Northern District of Texas. On July 16, 2024, Rosa Solano-Olivares, 41, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for her role in the offense.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Prisons-FCI Texarkana; Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab; and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Crime Lab. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen Hurst and Lauren Richards.
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Tennessee Man Convicted of Armed Bank Robbery Is Sentenced to over 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Paul Gordon Day, 37, of Brentwood, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 147 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for the armed robbery of a bank in Asheville, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina and Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.According to filed court documents and evidence presented at Day’s trial, on November 9, 2022, at approximately 4:20 p.m., Day rode a bicycle to the PNC Bank branch
located at 8 O’Henry Avenue, in Asheville, which is across the street from the federal courthouse. Day parked the bicycle and entered the bank wearing a blue cap, sunglasses, a blue surgical mask, a grey sweatshirt, and gloves. Upon entering the bank, Day drew from his waistband a firearm wrapped in a black plastic bag secured to the barrel with rubber bands and approached the bank tellers. Day held up a firearm, ordered a customer who was in the bank to the ground, and demanded money from tellers. The tellers complied and gave Day the cash, including a GPS tracking device concealed within the money. Day then fled the scene on the bicycle.
Court documents show that law enforcement tracked the GPS device and determined it was located inside a vehicle traveling on Interstate 26 toward Weaverville, North Carolina. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and arrested Day, who was alone in the vehicle. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and recovered the firearm Day used during the robbery, the stolen cash and the GPS tracking device, the bicycle, and numerous articles of clothing worn by Day during the commission of the robbery.
On January 10, 2024, a federal jury found Day guilty of bank robbery using a dangerous weapon, and possessing and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Day remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI, the Asheville Police Department, and the Weaverville Police Department for their investigation of the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Stafford man sentenced to over 10 years in prison for selling lethal counterfeit pillsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Stafford man was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, from at least February 2023 through January 2024, Thomas Lee Smith Jr., 35, obtained thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills, which were imprinted with “M30” but contained fentanyl, and provided them to redistributors, including co-defendant Shane Darontae Anderson, 37, to sell. Smith’s co-conspirators obtained these drugs from a cartel-connected source in Arizona.
Anderson sold or agreed to sell over 17,500 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to a cooperating source (CS). The total weight of these pills was approximately 1,500 net grams. Smith supplied Anderson with all the counterfeit pills provided to the CS and drove Anderson to multiple controlled buys. Smith’s vehicle, which Anderson drove to a controlled buy, contained a trap compartment for concealed storage. Anderson also offered to sell cocaine to the CS, as Smith was able to obtain cocaine as well.
On Jan. 24, Smith and Anderson planned to sell 4,500 counterfeit pills to the CS for $8,000. When Smith and Anderson arrived at the meeting location in Stafford, law enforcement arrested them after the Smith and Anderson attempted to flee. Law enforcement searched Smith’s vehicle and located the trap compartment, which contained 4,999 counterfeit pills, as well as a loaded handgun.
Anderson pled guilty on May 8 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. On Sept. 5, he was sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin S. Starr and Catherine Rosenberg 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 Nos. 1:24-cr-106 (Smith) and 1: 24-CR-95 (Anderson).
St. Louis Man Caught with Guns and Drugs After Throwing Dog Out of Window SentencedRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a man caught with guns and fentanyl after throwing a French bulldog out of a window to 75 months in prison.
On Oct. 19, 2023, police investigating the theft of two French bulldogs set up a meeting to “buy” the dogs. Officers arrested the seller outside of her apartment in St. Louis. As police approached the apartment to try and recover the dogs, a window opened and one of the dogs was thrown out. Police entered that apartment and found Landon Allen hiding in a closet. He had a baggie with 105 capsules containing fentanyl in his pocket. Nearby were empty capsules, a press used to make pills, an AR pistol and a handgun with an extended magazine. Allen admitted as part of his plea possessing one or more of the firearms in furtherance of fentanyl distribution.
Allen, 24, pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The North County Police Cooperative, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Boyce prosecuted the case.
St. Francis Man Convicted of BurglaryRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Second-Degree Burglary. The sentencing took place on September 9, 2024.
Antonio Molina, 35, was sentenced to one year and five months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Molina was indicted for second-degree burglary by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty on June 10, 2024.
The conviction arose from an incident in St. Francis, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, where Molina broke into an individual’s home and attempted to steal various items, including a firearm. Molina was apprehended by law enforcement as he was leaving the scene of the burglary.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Molina was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Son Found Guilty After Shooting and Conspiring with His Mother to Corruptly Tamper with WitnessesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Last night, a federal jury found a son and his mother guilty of crimes related to a 2023 shooting.
Marco Dionte Atkins, 19, of Tulsa and a citizen of Muscogee (Creek) Nation, was convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; and Tampering with a Witness by Corrupt Persuasion.
Sidney Brook Mayfield, 39, was convicted of Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim, and Informant; and False Declaration Before a Grand Jury.
They were both found guilty of Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Corrupt Persuasion; Corruptly Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant; and Corruptly Obstructing the Due Administration of Justice.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, shortly after 8 pm on Nov. 26, 2023, Sidney Mayfield pulled into a convenience store directly across from the street from a high school. Five teenagers were in the car, including Marco Atkins, Mayfield’s then 18-year-old son. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, were seen entering the store on video surveillance. After a few minutes inside the store, a verbal altercation began between the teens and the victim. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, left the store. The teens continued to argue with the victim outside. The video shows Atkins inside the vehicle, firing multiple rounds towards the victim, eventually hitting him. Another person was seen exiting the vehicle to grab something on the ground before Mayfield sped off.
Evidence presented to the jury showed that shortly after Atkins was arrested in January 2024, Mayfield and Atkins began tampering with witnesses, obstructing the investigation, and commenting about retaliation. Atkins original trial was set to begin in June of 2024 but was forced to be continued due to their obstruction and witness tampering. After the trial was continued in June, evidence showed Mayfield ranting on social media about a witness being a “snitch,” announcing the witness's full name and where the family resided. In the video played for the jury, Mayfield stated that she would “kill anybody” that went against her or her son and that she would “ride with Marco until the [explicit] wheels fell off.” Shortly after she posted that video, Mayfield was indicted and arrested, and Atkins was charged with additional counts.
The victim testified that he was shot once in the stomach. He did have a firearm on him, but he did not pull the gun out of his pocket. After being shot, the victim believes he fell backward, and the gun fell out of his pocket. He testified about passing out on the way to the hospital, where it took several days for him to recover from the gunshot wound. Officers testified they did not find a gun on the victim.
During the trial, Atkins testified that the victim made threats towards him and his friends. Atkins said the victim pointed a gun directly at him, and that is why he shot. Atkins described the victim falling backward after being shot and dropping his gun. He said that someone from his vehicle grabbed the victim's gun before they drove off. At the trial, prosecutors questioned Atkins about his testimony and evidence presented regarding obstruction and witness tampering. Atkins denied any involvement.
Atkins and Mayfield will remain in custody until sentencing at a later date.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on September 9, 2024.
Calvin Spotted Tail, 44, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Spotted Tail was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on June 6, 2024.
On December 1, 2005, Spotted Tail pleaded guilty to Sexual Abuse in federal court in South Dakota. As a result of this conviction, Spotted Tail is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Spotted Tail last registered with authorities on October 31, 2023. He left his registered address on November 2, 2023, did not return, and did not update his registration as required. Spotted Tail was arrested on October 31, 2023, in Sioux Falls.
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.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Murphy prosecuted the case.
Spotted Tail was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Senior Fund Executives and Salespeople Charged in Connection with $60 Million Pre-IPO Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal court in Brooklyn, a five-count indictment was unsealed charging John Cangialosi, Peter Girgis, Gene Sarabella, also known as “Jerry,” Enrico Carini, also known as “Ed,” and Caner Otar, also known as “John,” with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, and money laundering conspiracy in connection with their scheme to defraud investors in Max Infinity Management LLC, Elder Fund Management LLC, and a related series of funds (collectively, “Max Infinity”). The defendants’ fraudulent misrepresentations about the operation of the funds, including excessive and undisclosed share price markups charged to investors, allowed them to raise more than approximately $60 million from investors and divert approximately $27 million for the benefit of the defendants and other Max Infinity salespeople.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the charges.
“As alleged, based on false promises the defendants bilked investors out of millions of dollars,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “They lied about how they made money and promised near-certain returns on investment when, in truth, they charged astonishing markups, at times greater than 95%, and defrauded investors. My office will vigorously prosecute those who seek to take advantage of the investing public for their own greed.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Washington, D.C. Home Office, for its significant cooperation and assistance during the investigation.
“These five defendants allegedly charged undisclosed markup fees to defraud almost $60 million from investors of Max Infinity, routing nearly half of the proceeds to their personal wallets. Luring in investors based on false success stories and concealing additional expenses betrays their belief that the money is being handled appropriately. The FBI will continue to disrupt fraudulent schemes rooted in deceit and investigate anyone seeking to make an unlawful quick buck at the cost of another,” stated FBI Director Curtis.
As set forth in the indictment, Max Infinity was a New York City based manager of investment funds that bought and sold stock issued by privately held companies that anticipated an initial public offering (IPO). Principals Cangialosi, Girgis, and Sarabella, along with sales team leaders Carini and Otar, engaged in a scheme to defraud investors and prospective investors in Max Infinity by misrepresenting, among other things, that Max Infinity took no upfront fees, was registered with the SEC, and sourced pre-IPO shares directly from the issuing companies. The defendants also fabricated Max Infinity’s track record – claiming on their website and to investors that Max Infinity had returned significant profits to investors in prior successful IPOs—when in reality, Max Infinity had no such previous investments. Additionally, Cangialosi and Girgis were both, at various times, under suspension by the Financial Industry National Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and hid their involvement in Max Infinity from investors.
Even though investors were told that Max Infinity did not make money until customers made money, Cangialosi, Girgis, and Sarabella paid themselves distributions and paid salespeople commissions out of excessive, undisclosed markups charged to investors. From these distributions, Sarabella directed the purchase of more than a million dollars in luxury watches. Salespeople also utilized scripts that falsely assured investors that the firm had an impressive track record of success in prior IPO deals, conducted extensive due diligence, and had specialized access to top deals. At the principals’ direction, salespeople lulled investors into a false sense of security by falsely claiming SEC oversight over their fund and its investments.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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 wire fraud, such as the crimes that defendants allegedly committed.
If you believe that you or someone you know was victimized by the defendants, please contact the FBI by email at: maxinfinitytips@fbi.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business & Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah M. Evans, Eric Silverberg, John O. Enright and Lorena Michelen are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Sarah Burn and Liam McNett.
The Defendants:
JOHN CANGIALOSI
Age: 43
Manalapan, New JerseyPETER GIRGIS
Age: 43
Staten Island, New YorkGENE SARABELLA (also known as “Jerry”)
Age: 36
Monroe, New JerseyENRICO CARINI (also known as “Ed”)
Age: 39
Staten Island, New YorkCANER OTAR (also known as “John”)
Age: 37
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-363
Securities Trader Pleads Guilty to Market Manipulation ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A securities trader pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in a sophisticated, multi-year market manipulation conspiracy involving securities traded on exchanges within the United States, including the New York Stock Exchange and NADSAQ.
Xiaosong Wang, 36, of Upton, Mass. pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Dec. 17, 2024. Wang was initially charged in October 2019. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Xiaosong Wang agreed to forfeit $1,041,084 in illicit proceeds from the conspiracy and agreed to an order removing him to China upon completion of his sentence.
From approximately 2013 through at least 2018, Wang participated in the manipulative trading activity of a group of securities traders located in China and, at times, in Massachusetts. Specifically, Xiaosong Wang and his co-conspirators, including Jiali Wang, used multiple brokerage accounts in their names, and in the names of others with whom Xiaosong Wang and Jiali Wang had relationships, to artificially depress or inflate the prices of thinly traded securities. They did so by repeatedly placing relatively small sell (or buy) orders designed to send a false signal about a security’s supply (or demand) and to depress (or inflate) the security’s price. Xiaosong Wang and his co-conspirators then immediately placed relatively large buy (or sell) orders on the other side of the market to take advantage of their manipulations. Once the large orders executed, Xiaosong Wang and his co-conspirators cancelled their outstanding manipulative orders.
Jiali Wang pleaded guilty in August 2022 and was sentenced in December 2022 to time served (three months in prison) and nine months of home detention. Jiali Wang was also ordered to forfeit $7.75 million in illicit proceeds.
The charge of conspiracy to commit securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss. 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 today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Rockford Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine and Selling FirearmsRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine and selling firearms in Rockford.
ROGELIO IBARRA, 34, pleaded guilty earlier this year to distribution of cocaine and the unlawful possession of firearms. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston on Tuesday sentenced Ibarra to 76 months in federal prison.
Ibarra, a leader of the Rockford chapter of the “Insane Unknowns” street gang, admitted in a plea agreement that in 2021 and 2022 he and other gang leaders would distribute cocaine to Insane Unknown members to sell on the streets and fund the gang’s criminal activities. Ibarra also admitted that despite prior felony convictions, he possessed five firearms and sold those firearms to another individual.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Rockford Police Department, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) – the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Robeson County Man Who Led Law Enforcement on Two Car Chases Sentenced for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A Robeson County man convicted of Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence has been sentenced, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
SHAWN CRAIG STRICKLAND, age 46, of Maxton, North Carolina, was sentenced on September 11, 2024, to 150 months in prison. STRICKLAND pleaded guilty on April 2, 2024, to interference with commerce by robbery, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).
According to court records, in the early morning of February 5, 2023, a suspect, later identified as STRICKLAND, entered the County Line Grocery located at 1482 NC Highway 71 North in Maxton in the MDNC, armed with a handgun and disguised. He held the firearm on the counter, demanded the clerk give him the money in the register, and stole $1,894. On February 9, when deputies from Scotland County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) attempted to apprehend STRICKLAND, he led them on a dangerous car chase, at times through residential areas, while weaving through traffic, swerving across the lane divider, driving with his foot on the dashboard and out of the driver’s side window, and drinking a beer. STRICKLAND evaded capture as he drove into the woods.
SCSO and RCSO enlisted the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service in apprehending STRICKLAND. On April 4, 2023, law enforcement located STRICKLAND, and again he led them on a dangerous car chase, avoiding spike strips, driving into oncoming traffic, and running cars off the road. When his car became stuck in muddy terrain, he exited the car with a loaded shotgun. As law enforcement ran after him, he dropped the shotgun but refused to obey any other commands as he ran through woods and pastures until law enforcement captured and arrested him.
STRICKLAND was sentenced by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. At the conclusion of his active term of imprisonment, STRICKLAND will be subject to a five-year term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,894 in restitution.
The case was investigated by the Scotland County Sheriff's Office, Robeson County Sheriff's Office, United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laure Jeanne Dildine.
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Research Foundation Pays $313,574 to Resolve Claims That University Research Scientist Failed to Disclose Foreign SupportRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – The Research Foundation of the State University of New York (RFSUNY) has paid $313,574 to resolve civil allegations that a research scientist at the State University of University at Albany (UAlbany) failed to disclose his affiliations with and support from a foreign government in connection with federal research funding.
The settlement relates to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States Department of Commerce (NOAA) grants and research support agreements that provided funding to UAlbany. In the funding application process, NASA and NOAA require disclosure of, among other things, foreign government support received by any principal investigator (PI) on the grant or agreement. The settlement resolves allegations that Research Scientist Dr. Qilong Min failed to disclose his affiliations with and/or funding from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in connection with Min’s work as PI on three federal research grants from which RFSUNY received funding (the Subject Grants). In particular, UAlbany’s Dr. Min did not disclose that he was receiving funding from PRC during the period of the Subject Grants in connection with: (i) Min's employment with Wuhan University, a public university in China; (ii) Min's participation in a Chinese Talent Plan, a program established by the PRC to recruit individuals with knowledge or access to foreign technology intellectual property; and (iii) grants that funded Min’s research efforts for projects in China from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other Chinese funding sources. During the United States’ investigation, UAlbany terminated Dr. Min’s employment.
“Universities, institutions and researchers are required to make certain disclosures when applying for federal grants so that the government can assess whether to fund their research and development,” said United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman. “My office will hold accountable applicants who undermine the integrity of the grant process by knowingly failing to submit complete and truthful applications.”
“This settlement demonstrates NASA OIG’s commitment to identifying and holding accountable those who engage in deliberate concealment of affiliations with foreign entities to illegally obtain research funding,” said Adelle K. Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Field Office, NASA Office of Inspector General. “I am proud of the exceptional teamwork of our law enforcement partners and the USAO for the Northern District of New York that resulted in securing this settlement and ensuring aggressive oversight of taxpayer funds awarded for academic research.”
“The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), Office of Inspector General is determined to protect the integrity of NOAA programs and grant funding,” said Eric Arcand, Special Agent in Charge, DOC Office of Inspector General. “Failure to comply with level of effort reporting requirements when working on NOAA-funded research projects undermines the trust placed in those receiving federal grant funds. We greatly appreciate the efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners in investigating and resolving this matter.”
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Hoggan, Jr., with substantial assistance from DOC OIG and NASA OIG.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Repeat Child Pornography Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Jedidiah Allen, age 32, was sentenced on September 10 to 15 years in prison after entering guilty pleas to Distribution of Child Pornography and Access with Intent to View Child Pornography. Allen entered his guilty pleas on April 15, 2024.
According to court documents, Allen was distributing child pornography via a social media website and possessed child pornography on his phone on two different occasions. Law enforcement investigated Allen after receiving a tip from a social media platform. In August of 2022, Allen’s phone was seized and examined. Law enforcement found 103 images of child pornography. There was a text message on the device in which Allen asked a female to take pictures of her young niece in the shower, and there were messages in which Allen described sexually abusing a minor child and taking a photograph of the abuse. Upon his arrest on March 14, 2024, Allen was again found to be in possession of child pornography on his phone. Allen was previously convicted of Possession of Obscene Materials Under 17 in the Circuit Court of Mobile County on March 2, 2020.
At sentencing, Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed a 180-month sentence of incarceration and a fifteen-year term of supervised release upon Allen’s discharge from prison. During his term of supervised release, Allen will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment as well has mental health treatment. Allen will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors. Allen was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution in $200 in special assessments.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources
Rapids Theatre owner and associate named in superseding indictment for defrauding the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Programs out of more than $750,000Read the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging John L. Hutchins, 70, of Lewiston, NY, and Roberto Soliman, 40, of Niagara Falls, NY, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, bank fraud, and wire fraud. In addition, defendant Hutchins is charged with making a false statement and defendant Soliman is charged with engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Bonanno and Douglas A. C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that the superseding indictment charges Hutchins and Soliman with filing fraudulent loan applications under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). The loans available for these programs were designed to provide emergency financial assistance pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act). The defendants applied for loans under the following companies owned by defendant Hutchins:
• Rapids Theatre Niagara Falls, USA, Inc.
• 1711 Main, LLC
• Bear Creek Entertainment, LLC
• Hutch Enterprises, LLC
• The Hutchins Agency, LLC
• CWE Entertainment, Corp. (owned by defendant Soliman)
Between March and August 2020, Hutchins and Soliman received four Economic Injury Disaster Loans totaling $749,500.00. In support of each of the loans, Hutchins and Soliman submitted false revenue and expense figures for the businesses on the loan applications. Hutchins and Soliman used the loan funding for their own personal expenses, such as payments for residential properties in North Tonawanda, NY, and Lewiston, NY, a 2020 BMW, a 2020 Cadillac, homeowner association fees on a Florida condominium, and payments to relatives.
In addition, Hutchins and Soliman applied for and received two Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling $115,978.
In November 2020, Hutchins is accused of making a false statement to a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to an Investigator of the United States Attorney's Office, falsely denying applying for, or authorizing anyone to apply for, any Economic Injury Disaster Loans or Paycheck Protection Program loans, with the possible exception of one PPP loan for Rapids Theater.
Soliman is also accused of engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property for using the fraudulent loan proceeds to pay personal expenses.
The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Rose Brophy, Director of Field Operations, and the New York State Office of Professional Discipline.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Providence Resident Admits to Role in Schemes to Defraud Unemployment Benefit Programs, Property Title CompanyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man has admitted to a federal judge that he participated in an international fraud scheme to defraud the federally-funded pandemic unemployment compensation program of more than $70,000, and to defraud an Alabama-based property title company of an additional $80,000, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Obryan Poku, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count each of theft of public funds and money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2024.
As reflected in court documents, after living in Texas for two years, Poku returned to Rhode Island in June 2021, while continuing to collect pandemic unemployment insurance benefits from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). On approximately 10 occasions, Poku made fraudulent statements in the course of recertifying online benefits applications, falsely attesting that he was not receiving any other income, when in fact he was. Poku subsequently received pandemic unemployment benefits totaling $14,042 that he was not entitled to receive.
Additionally, Poku conspired with individuals in Ghana to launder $70,644 in pandemic unemployment benefits received from the Illinois Department of Economic Security; those benefits were obtained by individuals working with Poku, using the stolen personal identification information of three individuals. The Illinois benefit payments were directed to a bank account controlled by Poku, who then wired a portion of the ill-gotten proceeds to his co-conspirators in Ghana, while keeping a portion for himself.
In yet another scheme detailed in court filings, Poku conspired with individuals in Ghana in an attempt to defraud an Alabama-based title company. To carry out the scheme, Poku or a member of the conspiracy sent an $80,000 check to the title company, purportedly as earnest money for a pending real estate transaction. Approximately two weeks after the check was placed in escrow by the title company, the co-conspirators sent the company an email stating that the property purchase had fallen through, and requesting that the $80,000 earnest payment be reimbursed to an investment company. It was later determined by investigators that the investment company had been created by Poku just days prior to the request for reimbursement. Shortly after the funds were transferred to Poku’s company account, the title company was notified that the original check was fraudulent and that the funds in Poku’s company’s account had been frozen. Poku then attempted to access the funds by repeatedly calling the bank and falsely stating that the funds were sent from business partners, and later, by family members.
Poku is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2024. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman.
The matter was investigated by the FBI’s Rhode Island Complex Financial Crimes Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and members of the Providence Police Department, North Providence Police Department, and the Rhode Island State Police.
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Prior felon charged with illegal firearm possessionRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Lawrence Foggie, 66, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna M. Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that on September 6th, 2024, Buffalo Police and the ATF received information that an individual in the area of Main and E. Utica Streets in Buffalo, pulled a firearm on another person. Law enforcement officers responded to the area and observed Foggie as matching the description of the individual. Law enforcement approached and gave verbal commands for Foggie to stop moving. Foggie stated that he had a pistol permit and a firearm in his backpack. He was taken into custody. A loaded .38 caliber revolver, 3.6 grams of suspected methamphetamine, pills and drug paraphernalia were recovered from Foggie’s backpack. In July 2016, Foggie was convicted of a felony in Erie County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Foggie made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Previously convicted Newport News man sentenced for federal firearm offenseRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Jan. 25, 2022, Antonio James Hill, 33, sold a .38 caliber handgun and five rounds of ammunition to a confidential informant (CI) for $200. During this controlled purchase, Hill was wearing a shoulder holster holding another firearm.
Hill was previously convicted of felonies, including malicious wounding and use or display of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He also was convicted of assaulting a corrections officer while incarcerated for the prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon, Hill cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, and Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. The Newport News Police Department and Hampton Police Department provided significant assistance in the investigation of this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson C. Yates, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
Assistance was provided by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.
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.
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. 4:24-cr-12.
Portland Man Sentenced to 156 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Methamphetamine While on Federal SupervisionRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Portland, Oregon man with prior convictions for narcotics, firearms, and interstate prostitution was sentenced to federal prison today for possessing methamphetamine after he was caught by federal law enforcement, while on supervised release, with narcotics and a firearm.
Anthony Ballard Jones, 42, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
“Every day the FBI works tirelessly to build strong cases to remove violent individuals like Anthony Jones from our communities,” said Douglas A. Olson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “We appreciate the work of the U.S. Attorney's Office in pursuing justice in this case.”
According to court documents, in January 2022, FBI received reports from a concerned citizen that Jones, on federal supervised release from a prior conviction, was sending threatening text messages to individuals. During the investigation, FBI received reports from another concerned citizen that Jones was engaged in illegal activities. At the same time, Jones had fled federal supervision and the U.S. Probation Office in Oregon was rendered unable to track his whereabouts or monitor his conduct.
On March 23, 2022, FBI special agents arrested Jones in Portland, Oregon. A firearm and multiple bags were seized from Jones’ vehicle. Later, investigators searched the bags and found ammunition, a knife, drug packaging materials and paraphernalia, and distribution quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as cocaine and heroin.
On April 21, 2022, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a three-count indictment charging Jones with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On September 12, 2024, Jones pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren and Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Placer County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation ChargeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Paul Hughes, 41, of Colfax, pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between September 2018 and June 2019, on three separate occasions Hughes created visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hughes used a cellphone to surreptitiously record at least three videos containing child sexual abuse material and saved them on an external hard drive. In addition to these videos, agents recovered over 3,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material on Hughes’s external hard drive and Google account.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.
Hughes is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. Hughes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Philadelphia Man Who Carjacked Two Ride-Share Drivers in One Week Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Rashad Johnson-Price, 20, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 135 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment by United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson, for two counts of carjacking and one count of carrying and using a firearm during, and in relation to, the commission of a crime of violence.
Johnson-Price was indicted on those violations in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty in September 2023, before the late Honorable Gene E.K. Pratter, admitting to carjacking a Lyft driver with an accomplice at approximately 4 a.m. on August 9, 2022, in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. As part of his plea, the defendant also admitted to carrying and using a firearm to commit this offense. Then, on August 13, 2022, the defendant and an accomplice carjacked an Uber driver at approximately 5 a.m. In both instances, the defendant and an accomplice requested a ride-share vehicle and when they arrived at or near their destination, they carjacked the vehicle from the ride-share driver at gunpoint.
“The victims in this case were just trying to make an honest living when two criminals threatened them at gunpoint,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “It must have been terrifying, especially in the early hours of the morning, with few other people around. We and our partners on the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force will not allow carjackers like Rashad Johnson-Price to commit these violent crimes with impunity. He’ll now be living his 20s behind bars.”
“Luring victims through their ride-share service to take their cars and livelihood at gunpoint was a particularly awful crime that will not go unpunished,” said Eric J. DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Philadelphia Field Division. “Working with our Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force partners, ATF Philadelphia Field Division applies our unique forensic and investigative tools to ensure justice for the victims and to make our communities safer.”
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 Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert E. Eckert and Lauren E. Stram.
Philadelphia Businessman Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Evading $148,000 in TaxesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that William Powell, 65, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson, for committing tax evasion. Powell was also ordered to pay $148,984 in restitution and a $50,000 fine.
The defendant was indicted in August 2023 and pleaded guilty to the charges against him in May.
Powell had been performing general contracting work and cleaning services for a federally funded nonprofit organization in the Philadelphia area, but in 2010, he married the executive director of this nonprofit. Conflict-of-interest rules prohibited the nonprofit from retaining Powell’s company due to the marriage.
To circumvent these rules, Powell used another person to take over the cleaning business as a nominal owner. Powell continued to run the business, provide the services, and receive compensation from the cleaning business. While hiding his operation of the cleaning service business from 2014 through 2018, Powell earned over $700,000 derived from payments made to the cleaning business by his wife’s non-profit entity.
Powell hid this income by receiving cash payments, using a debit card in the name of the cleaning business to pay his personal expenses, failing to file tax returns, and eventually lying to IRS agents when they interviewed him about his activity. By hiding over $700,000 in income from the IRS, Powell evaded paying $148,984 in income taxes.
“Paying the taxes that we lawfully owe is both our civic and legal duty,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “William Powell opted to go another way, concealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in income. In doing so, he cheated both the government and the honest taxpayers who help fill its treasury each year. That’s why tax evasion has some serious consequences, as Mr. Powell can now confirm.”
“The prosecution of individuals who intentionally conceal income and evade taxes is a vital element of the IRS' enforcement strategy,” said Amy MacNeely, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation Philadelphia Field Office. “Those who attempt to hide their income to evade paying taxes, like Mr. Powell did, should know you will be prosecuted.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Donovan.
Pharr resident receives max for smuggling over 100Read the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 21-year-old man has been sentenced for transporting undocumented individuals, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Isaac Jake Gonzalez pleaded guilty March 30, 2023.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that while on bond, Gonzalez continued to smuggle undocumented individuals and allegedly trafficked a 15-year-old girl for sex which resulted in a revocation of his bond. The court also heard Gonzalez was responsible for smuggling unaccompanied minors and that, in some cases, the undocumented people were locked in trailers where the refrigeration was not working.
Beginning in summer 2021, authorities initiated an investigation into an organization responsible for smuggling thousands of undocumented aliens in tractor-trailers. Law enforcement ultimately identified Gonzalez and his brother-in-law, Anthony Williams, as coordinators responsible for recruiting drivers.
On Dec. 6, 2022, authorities arrested Gonzalez and three other co-conspirators. Law enforcement discovered that members had delivered six undocumented migrants to a warehouse where a tractor-trailer was waiting to smuggle them north.
Through the investigation, Gonzalez was found responsible for smuggling approximately 115 undocumented individuals.
Williams, 27, Pharr, was previously sentenced to 96 months in federal prison.
Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Peña prosecuted the case.
Parmelee Man Sentenced for Attempted RobberyRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Robbery. The sentencing took place on September 10, 2024.
Phillip Clairmont, age 25, was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Clairmont was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,000.
Clairmont was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2024. He was found guilty following a two-day jury trial in June of 2024.
On January 13, 2024, Clairmont entered a convenience store in Parmelee, which is within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. The victim worked at the store and was seated behind the store counter. Clairmont approached the victim and began assaulting him, by striking him in the head and face, and demanded money. The victim agreed to give Clairmont money, at which point Clairmont stopped assaulting the victim. The victim then retrieved a firearm and shot Clairmont in the abdomen. Clairmont immediately fled the store, and the victim called 911. Clairmont was located a short time later at a nearby residence and was hospitalized for his injuries.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Clairmont was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Orange County felon sentenced to federal prison for gun violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – An Orange convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Terryence John Nelson, 40, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 12, 2024.
According to information presented in court, on October 29, 2023, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the Orange Boat Ramp in reference to a large disturbance with shots fired. Upon arrival, officers could see a large crowd with numerous vehicles in the boat ramp parking lot. As officers approached the scene, they heard several gunshots and observed muzzle flashes. Witnesses identified a dark green Lincoln Continental town car and told police that some of the occupants were involved in the shooting. Police identified the driver of the car as Nelson. Further investigation revealed Nelson had an active warrant for his arrest and he was detained. During the arrest, Nelson was found to have a semi-automatic pistol in his pants pocket. The firearm had previously been reported stolen out of Orange County, Texas, and it had an extended magazine loaded with approximately 19 rounds of ammunition.
Nelson admitted to officers that he carried the firearm everywhere he went for protection. He told officers that he knew it was wrong because he was a convicted felon.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Orange Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Quinn.
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Ohio Man Sentenced for Tax Fraud Conspiracy Related to Illegal Gambling BusinessesRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was sentenced to 24 months in prison today for conspiring to defraud the IRS by not reporting income he earned from his ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2010 through 2018, Jason Kachner, of Canton, along with Christos Karasarides Jr. and other co-conspirators, owned and operated two illegal gambling businesses, Skilled Shamrock and Redemption. From 2012 through 2017, patrons at Skilled Shamrock wagered a total of more than $34 million, which resulted in more than $4 million in income for the owners of the gambling business. Kachner conspired with his co-owners to defraud the IRS by using a nominee owner to conceal their ownership of the businesses and by filing false tax returns that omitted most of the income he received from the businesses.
Overall, Kachner caused a loss to the IRS of $844,692.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent for the Northern District of Ohio ordered Kachner to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,393,024 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission-Major Crimes Task Force investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Hayter Whitman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Tax Fraud Conspiracy Related to Illegal Gambling BusinessesRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was sentenced to 20 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the IRS by not reporting income he earned from his ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2010 through 2018, Jason Kachner, 48, of Canton, along with Christos Karasarides Jr., 59, of Canton, and other co-conspirators, owned and operated two illegal gambling businesses, Skilled Shamrock and Redemption.
From 2012 through 2017, patrons at Skilled Shamrock wagered a total of more than $34 million, which resulted in more than $4 million in income for the owners of the gambling business. Kachner conspired with his co-owners to defraud the IRS by using a nominee owner to conceal their ownership of the businesses and by filing false tax returns that omitted most of the income he received from the businesses.
Overall, Kachner caused a loss to the IRS of $844,692.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent for the Northern District of Ohio ordered Kachner to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,393,024 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission-Major Crimes Task Force investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Hayter Whitman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Tax Evasion, Money Laundering and Operating an Illegal Gambling BusinessRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was sentenced to over seven years in prison today for tax, money laundering and gambling crimes arising out of his ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses and related misconduct.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 through 2022, Steven Saris owned and operated multiple illegal gambling businesses in Northeast Ohio — including Café 62, Lucky’s, Winner’s World, Spin City and another business in Springfield, Ohio — as well as in Florida. Saris concealed his involvement in and income from these businesses by having others serve as nominee owners, and by destroying and directing others to destroy business records.
For tax year 2015, Saris filed a false tax return that did not report more than $1.4 million in income he received from his illegal gambling businesses. For tax years 2016 through 2021, Saris did not file tax returns or pay all the tax that he owed despite earning more than $9 million in income from his gambling businesses. During that time, Saris made only two nominal payments to the IRS in 2018 when he filed an application for an extension of time to file his 2017 return. Saris used his proceeds from the businesses to gamble millions at legal casinos and to acquire and renovate at least two residential properties located in Canton, Ohio.
Saris’s conduct caused a tax loss of $2,823,391.
In July 2018, law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple illegal gambling businesses and associated locations in Northeast Ohio. Following those search warrants, Saris made false statements to law enforcement. At the same time, Saris continued operating the illegal gambling businesses and did not disclose that to law enforcement. In August 2022, law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at Saris’ residence and for his cell phone. Upon learning of the search warrant for his cell phone, Saris told law enforcement that he did not know the location of his cell phone. Law enforcement recovered Saris’ cell phone from the water tank of a toilet in Saris’ residence.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent for the Northern District of Ohio ordered Saris to serve three years of supervised release and pay $2,823,391 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation; the Stark County, Ohio, Prosecutor’s Office; the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Inspector General; Homeland Security Investigations; the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, Major Crimes Task Force investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Hayter Whitman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Tax Evasion, Money Laundering and Operating an Illegal Gambling BusinessRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was sentenced to over seven years in prison today for tax, money laundering and gambling crimes arising out of his ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses and related misconduct.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 through 2022, Steven Saris, 49, of Canton, Ohio, owned and operated multiple illegal gambling businesses in Northeast Ohio — including Café 62, Lucky’s, Winner’s World, Spin City and another business in Springfield, Ohio — as well as in Florida. Saris concealed his involvement in and income from these businesses by having others serve as nominee owners, and by destroying and directing others to destroy business records.
For tax year 2015, Saris filed a false tax return that did not report more than $1.4 million in income he received from his illegal gambling businesses. For tax years 2016 through 2021, Saris did not file tax returns or pay all the tax that he owed despite earning more than $9 million in income from his gambling businesses. During that time, Saris made only two nominal payments to the IRS in 2018 when he filed an application for an extension of time to file his 2017 return. Saris used his proceeds from the businesses to gamble millions at legal casinos and to acquire and renovate at least two residential properties located in Canton, Ohio.
Saris’ conduct caused a tax loss of $2,823,391.
In July 2018, law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple illegal gambling businesses and associated locations in Northeast Ohio. Following those search warrants, Saris made false statements to law enforcement. At the same time, Saris continued operating the illegal gambling businesses and did not disclose that to law enforcement. In August 2022, law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at Saris’ residence and for his cellphone. Upon learning of the search warrant for his cellphone, Saris told law enforcement that he did not know where it was located. Law enforcement recovered Saris’ cellphone from the water tank of a toilet in Saris’ residence.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent for the Northern District of Ohio ordered Saris to serve three years of supervised release and pay $2,823,391 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation; the Stark County, Ohio, Prosecutor’s Office; the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Inspector General; Homeland Security Investigations; the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, Major Crimes Task Force investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Hayter Whitman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.
Northglenn Man Charged with Assault in Rocky Mountain National Park Crash That Injured ThreeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Wade Thyfault, 24, of Northglenn, Colorado, was charged by complaint with one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in connection with a high-speed chase and car crash inside Rocky Mountain National Park.
According to the complaint, on Sunday, September 8, 2024, a Dodge Ram truck drove through the Grand Lake entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park and did not stop. A Park Ranger attempted to engage with the vehicle, which continued to drive erratically through the park at high rates of speed. Near the junction of Mill’s Drive and Highway 36 the Dodge Ram collided with a Toyota Corolla. Three people in the Toyota were injured, one critically. The driver of the Dodge Ram fled the scene on foot. Area law enforcement searched for the driver, who was found the next day after a homeowner in Estes Park reported a break-in at their residence.
The defendant made his initial appearance in Denver, Colorado on September 12, 2024, in front of Chief United States Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent of the charges unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the National Park Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Garreth Winstead.
Case Number: 24-mj-00171-MEH
Northern California Man Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging He Assaulted Attendants on Flight Bound for San FranciscoRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – An Alameda County man has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging he assaulted flight attendants shortly after his flight from Orange County to San Francisco took off, causing the flight to divert to Ontario for the safety of passengers and crew, the Justice Department announced today.
Charles Angel Salva, 30, of Fremont, is charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants.
Salva, who was arrested on Wednesday, is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Salva was on a Frontier Airlines flight bound from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana destined for San Francisco International Airport on September 9. Shortly after takeoff, while the airplane was climbing and under 10,000 feet, flight attendants saw that the oxygen masks in one row of the middle of the aircraft were out of the overhead compartment. Flight attendants investigated and discovered that Salva had his hand in the overhead compartment.
One passenger later told law enforcement that Salva appeared claustrophobic and seemed like he wanted to get off the plane. Salva then pulled down the oxygen mask from the overhead compartment, getting his hand stuck there in the process before a passenger helped him free his hand.
Salva allegedly began yelling obscenities at flight attendants and said, “We are all going to hell,” and “This airplane is going down!” Salva then grabbed at fellow passengers and ran towards the rear of the airplane when flight attendants tried to restrain him. Salva allegedly then attempted to choke a flight attendant, leaving two small marks on the victim’s neck.
Salva then pushed another flight attendant and said he was going to kill everybody, the affidavit alleges. Passengers helped restrain Salva, who broke out of flex cuffs and had to be restrained by a seatbelt. During the incident, Salva kicked one flight attendant approximately six times in the leg, causing apparent bruising and swelling, which required medical attention.
The flight was diverted to Ontario International Airport because the flight attendants did not feel safe trying to put Salva back in his seat.
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Salva would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI and the Ontario Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Cory L. Burleson of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
North Carolina Woman Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling More Than $500,000 from Farwell Funeral Service in NashuaRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A North Carolina woman was sentenced today in federal court in Concord in connection with charges arising out of her embezzlement of more than a half a million dollars from her previous employer, Farwell Funeral Service Inc. in Nashua, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
LaSaundra Simmons, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 27 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release. The defendant was ordered to pay $541,381in restitution. On May 20, 2024, Simmons pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Simmons worked as the bookkeeper for Farwell Funeral Service, Inc. for several years. Starting in 2015, and continuing until it was discovered in January 2023, Simmons employed a scheme to embezzle funds from the company. On more than 100 occasions, she either made unauthorized wire transfers of funds from the funeral home’s bank account to her own account, or drafted unauthorized checks which she deposited by electronic wire transfer into her own account. She would often describe these checks as “commissions” or “consulting fees.” She embezzled $541,381 over the course of the scheme.
“Ms. Simmons’s conduct was egregious, long-running, and did great harm to a third-generation New Hampshire small business,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Today’s sentence is a measure of justice for the victim and a warning to other fraudsters that if you steal from your employer, you will be prosecuted and incarcerated.”
“LaSaundra Simmons betrayed the trust of the family-run funeral home where she worked, and stole more than half a million dollars from them, using their money as her own,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will diligently investigate and bring to justice anyone who engages in such egregious financial fraud.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.
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North Carolina Native Pleads Guilty to Gun Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kenneth Locke, age 23, who currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pled guilty today to conspiring with others to unlawfully obtain firearms from a licensed dealer by making false statements, also known as “straw purchasing” firearms.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
Locke, a native of North Carolina, admitted that he entered into an agreement with Rylan Peterson, a Kingston native and former Marine then living in North Carolina, to acquire six semi-automatic handguns on behalf of Oryin McLeod and others residing in Kingston, New York. After McLeod paid Locke through Peterson, Locke purchased the firearms from a licensed dealer in North Carolina, falsely representing at the time of the purchase that he was acquiring the firearms for himself. Peterson later transported the firearms from North Carolina to New York where he provided them to McLeod and others. McLeod was subsequently arrested for unlawful possession of two of the firearms acquired through the straw purchasing scheme.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2025, before Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. Locke faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
McLeod and Peterson previously pleaded guilty to charges related to their unlawful acquisition of the firearms.
ATF and the Kingston Police Department are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin C. Segovia and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted the case.