component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and City of Memphis (City) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Specifically, the Justice Department finds that: MPD uses excessive force. MPD conducts unlawful stops, searches and arrests. MPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law. The City and MPD unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities. The Justice Department also identified serious concerns about MPD’s treatment of children. Finally, the Department identified deficiencies in policy, training, supervision and accountability that contribute to MPD’s and the City’s unlawful conduct. “The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our exhaustive investigation found that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, conducting unlawful stops, searches and arrests and discriminatory policing of Black people and residents with behavioral health disabilities. Our investigation also identified troubling policing practices that impact some of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents — its children. We acknowledge Memphis’ cooperation during our investigation and look forward to instituting reforms that will address the harms we identified.” “This process and these findings uncovered that our city has a lot of work to do,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Memphians are rightly concerned with gun violence and violent crime. They are also rightly concerned about the collective approach that we must take to tackle these issues. We hope to work with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the Memphis Police Department and our Memphis partners to move forward.” The City and MPD cooperated fully with the Justice Department’s investigation. The department provided a comprehensive written report of its investigative findings to the City and MPD. The report acknowledges the changes already made by the City and MPD, and it identifies additional remedial measures that the department believes are necessary to fully address its findings. The department opened this investigation on July 27, 2023. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The team conducted numerous onsite tours; interviewed MPD officers, supervisors and command staff; spoke with City officials and employees; accompanied behavioral crisis responders and officers on ride-alongs; reviewed thousands of documents; and reviewed hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates and service providers in the Memphis area. The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil pattern or practice investigation and are separate from the department’s criminal cases against former MPD officers for federal crimes related to the death of Tyre Nichols. The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Memphis community for input on remedies to address the department’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at Community.Memphis@usdoj.gov or by phone at 888-473-3730. The department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Please use this link to register for the event: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_hf-KK_oOTpWQ6qinosSN2w . Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings. This is one of 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Justice Department under Section 12601 since April 2021. In 2023 and 2024, the department issued findings reports regarding five of those investigations: the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department , Minneapolis Police Department , Phoenix Police Department, Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department , and Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department . The five other ongoing investigations cover the Louisiana State Police ; Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department ; New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division ; Oklahoma City Police Department ; and Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department . Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt.


title: Former high school teacher sent to prison for possessing images and videos depicting sexual abuse of children

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Emilio Santiago De Los Santos pleaded guilty April 16. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered De Los Santos to a total of 97 months in prison. He was further ordered to pay restitution to the victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. De Los Santos will also be ordered to register as sex offender. “As a high school teacher, De Los Santos held a special trust, charged with watching over the children in his care. At the same time, he was sharing his own stash of child pornography with like-minded offenders and that’s what makes this crime especially abhorrent,” said Hamdani. “The exploitation of children has no place in our community and my office will vigorously prosecute those involved in the distribution and possession of child pornography to the fullest extent of the law, in particular a teacher like De Los Santos.” “The FBI’s violent crimes against children squad consists of very special individuals who work every day to identify, investigate and arrest predators like De Los Santos,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI’s Houston Field Office. “Today’s sentencing is another testament to their commitment and dedication to protect our children from these types of monsters.” De Los Santos came to the attention of law enforcement after he shared multiple child pornography files in various subgroup chatrooms on the Keybase application. Authorities obtained a search warrant for De Los Santos’s residence and seized his electronic devices. A forensic examination of those devices resulted in the discovery of 853 images and 380 videos of child pornography. The material included depictions of sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, sadistic and masochistic conduct involving children under the age of 12 and bestiality. At the time of his arrest, De Los Santos was a high school teacher in the greater Houston area. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: North Carolina Men Sentenced in International Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jeffrey Doctor, age 52, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Samuel Baker, age 46, of Laurinburg, North Carolina, were sentenced today in connection with a scheme to smuggle cut rag tobacco into Canada from the United States. Doctor was sentenced to 14 months in prison and Samuel Baker was sentenced to 30 months in prison. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Harry Chavis, Acting Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office. As part of their previously entered guilty pleas, Doctor and Samuel Baker each admitted that from approximately 2013 to 2016, they worked with co-conspirators to acquire cut rag tobacco and smuggle it into Canada, where it was used to make contraband cigarettes. Members of the conspiracy sold the contraband cigarettes, making substantial profits by avoiding taxes and duties, and used some of their profits to buy more cut rag tobacco that they sent into Canada. Cut rag tobacco is tobacco cut into fine strips and used to make smoking tobacco. Funds to purchase the cut rag tobacco were sent from Canada, often through the Northern District of New York, to North Carolina. Once purchased, the cut rag tobacco was delivered to warehouses and buildings in the Northeastern United States, including on the St. Regis Mohawk Akwesasne Reservation, where it was staged for smuggling into Canada. Samuel Baker admitted that he laundered more than $19 million as part of the scheme, and previously agreed to an administrative forfeiture of $738,442 in proceeds from his crime. Samuel Baker was also fined $100,000. Doctor admitted that he obtained more than $503,850.66 in unrecovered proceeds, which he agreed to forfeit as a money judgment. Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 2-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release on each defendant. Edgar M. Baker, age 51, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, was sentenced today to three years of probation and a $75,000 fine following his prior guilty plea to misprision of a felony, for failing to report the conspiracy to authorities once he learned about it. Carey Terrance, another co-conspirator involved in the same scheme, was previously sentenced to time served and to pay a $350,000 fine. HSI and IRS-CI, along with the Canadian Border Services Agency and the Sûreté du Québec, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen J. Vickey and Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping prosecuted this case.


title: Justice Department Announces Recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI — U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida is delighted to share Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s announcement today regarding the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety. The award recipients include deputies who protect and serve communities in the Southern District of Florida. “All 21 of today’s awardees have demonstrated what community-oriented policing looks like in practice,” said Attorney General Garland. “They come from all different parts of the country. They represent communities of all shapes and sizes. Their typical days might not all look the same. But they are united by a deep commitment to protecting their communities.” The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing. “Today, we stand in the presence of extraordinary individuals who exemplify the very best of what it means to protect and serve,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “We celebrate a remarkable truth: the profound and positive impact that law enforcement officers and deputies have on the communities they serve every single day. These awards honor those who exemplify the very best of the profession and showcases these individuals as pillars of trust, empathy, and unity.” The 2024 award recipients are: Category: Criminal Investigations Detective Matthew Newbold of the Polk County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office; Detective Liz Grant of the Kennewick, Washington, Police Department; Detective Tyler Norman of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Police Department; and Police Officer Reece Walno of the Spearfish, South Dakota, Police Department. Category: Field Operations Deputy Sheriff Jahmar Robinson of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office; Lance Corporal Justin Boyd of the Columbia, South Carolina, Police Department; and Detective/Community Policing Officer Stephen Leacroy of the La Marque, Texas, Police Department. Category: Innovations in Community Policing Corporal Adrian Maldonado, Deputy James Mackey, Deputy Jason Coker, Deputy Tammy Fox, and Deputy Yanick Exceus of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office; Detective Edwin Hugh and Police Officer Thomas Joy of the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department; Officer Stephen Malandro, Officer Trevor Stamper, and Specialist Todd Nutbrown of the Largo, Florida, Police Department; Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn of the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department; Master Police Officer Thomas Rodriquez of the Manassas City, Virginia, Police Department; and Master Officer Shauna Moller of the Manassas City Police Department. “It is an honor to share the stage with these recipients,” said Director Hugh T. Clements of the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). “I am inspired by their actions and service.” The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities. The Justice Department commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov . The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers. ###


title: Bryan County Resident Pleads Guilty To Second Degree Murder

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kyle Duffner, age 26, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. The Information alleged that on June 27, 2021, Duffner unlawfully killed a child with malice aforethought during the perpetration of child abuse. The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Duffner will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Marietta Resident Pleads Guilty To Sexual Exploitation Of A Child

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jukobie Allen Ramsey, age 22, of Marietta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction. The Indictment alleged that beginning in May 2021, and continuing until April 29, 2024, Ramsey used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing and transmitting a visual depiction of such conduct in interstate commerce via the internet. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Love County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Ramsey will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak Cohen represented the United States.


title: Lexington Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, James Allen Brown, 26, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 165 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for the distribution of child pornography. According to his plea agreement, from June 2022 to March 2023, Brown used multiple Instagram accounts to send and receive child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement also located evidence of sexually explicit depictions of minors stored on Brown’s cell phone and accessed on a cloud storage system. During an interview, Brown admitted to law enforcement that he used Instagram and Telegram to trade child pornography with others. Under federal law, Brown must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. – END –


title: Canal Winchester man sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for drug, gun, fraud crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Thomas O. Crowell, 35, of Canal Winchester, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 188 months in prison for committing narcotics, firearms and financial fraud crimes. A federal jury convicted Crowell in January 2024. Crowell, who is also known as “T-Mack,” was a significant drug trafficker in the Columbus area who was investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies. According to court documents and trial testimony, Crowell possessed with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana in June 2021. During a search warrant of Crowell’s residence, investigators discovered fentanyl and cocaine hidden in the grill in the backyard. Throughout the house, Crowell kept drug packaging material and drug cutting agent. Crowell also illegally possessed firearms in his home, namely, a rifle and a Glock. Crowell is a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Finally, Crowell was also convicted of wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining COVID-relief Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding by falsely claiming to own a trucking business called “Thomas Crowell.” In April 2021, Crowell applied for the PPP loan and received nearly $20,000. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; and Hilliard Police Chief Michael Woods announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Damoun Delaviz are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Former children’s hospital employee sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for sharing, receiving child pornography

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Nationwide Children’s Hospital employee who treated child burn victims was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 210 months in prison for downloading, exchanging and receiving child pornography. Ryan Ramos, 38, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in May 2024 to one count of distributing and receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Ramos possessed a large quantity of child sexual abuse material, including more than 42,000 images and approximately 8,500 videos. As part of this case, more than 700 victims have been identified. Ramos worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital from 2018 until 2020 and then at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in the ICU in burn trauma until 2023. According to court documents, a 2020 FBI investigation in their Brooklyn-Queens office led agents to discover Ramos’s participation in a Signal app group dedicated to the exchange of child pornography. Ramos shared hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse, including abuse of young boys and infants, to the chat group. Further investigation into Ramos revealed that, in 2018, he had paid a sexual offender in New York City and received child pornography created by the offender in exchange for his payment. Ramos sent more than $500 via PayPal to the child exploiter. Ramos’s iPhone contained more than 346,000 Signal, Telegram and other online chat messages, in most of which Ramos was distributing, seeking, receiving or discussing child pornography. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Cary Businessman Sentenced to Prison for Over $1 Million in Tax Evasion Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Arturo Barcenas Gonzalez, a Cary businessman, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for evading over $1 million in federal taxes. In addition to his prison sentence, Barcenas was ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in an amount to be determined at a later date. “We are turbocharging white collar enforcement in North Carolina with groundbreaking state and federal partnerships,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “This businessman’s convoluted scheme involved titling cars for cash and using that cash to creatively conceal his income and fuel a lifestyle complete with high-end vehicles and a million-dollar home. This partnership with NC Division of Motor Vehicles, Homeland Security Investigations, and the NC Department of Insurance worked together seamlessly with IRS to build the case.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, Barcenas operated multiple businesses in Cary, including Barcenas Insurance Agency, LLC (BIA) and Barcenas Financial Services, LLC (BFS). BIA, a retail insurance provider, offered both traditional and automotive insurance policies. Investigations revealed that BIA operated a high-volume, cash-intensive business that included registering and titling vehicles for undocumented individuals using fraudulent business names and certificates. BFS, on the other hand, specialized in tax return preparation for federal and state filings. The investigation disclosed that in July 2018, Barcenas filed a falsified 2017 federal income tax return that concealed over $300,000 in business revenue. Subsequent evidence showed Barcenas stopped filing tax returns entirely after that year, despite generating receipts exceeding $1 million annually between 2018 and 2022. To evade IRS scrutiny, Barcenas used various methods, such as titling assets under nominees, depositing business proceeds into personal accounts, and handling large amounts of cash to conceal income. Barcenas used his untaxed gains to fund his personal lifestyle, including the purchase of high-end vehicles and a $1 million residence. In May 2023, federal agents executed a search warrant at Barcenas’s Cary offices. The operation led to the recovery of multiple income-related documents indicating that Barcenas had misled federal investigators in prior interactions. The total estimated tax loss attributable to his actions amounted to over $1 million for the tax years 2018 through 2021. Michael F. Easley, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the sentencing by United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. IRS-Criminal Investigation, based in Raleigh, investigated the case. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina Department of Insurance, and the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles also provided valuable assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-376-FL.


title: Armed New Jersey Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

component: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – James Hathcock, 45, of New Jersey City, NJ, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for distributing drugs around a neighborhood in Pollocksville. Hathcock pled to possession of a firearm in connection to a drug crime and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. According to court records and evidence presented in court, in February of 2023, law enforcement received complaints of possible drug activity on Nguyen Lane, a local neighborhood street in Pollocksville. From March 3 to April 20, 2023, law enforcement was able to conduct seven controlled purchases using a confidential source (CS), where Hathcock provided the CS with cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. During many of these purchases, Hathcock traveled to meet his supplier, co-defendant Robert Milton Green, before completing the transaction. After completing the controlled purchase on April 20, 2023, law enforcement simultaneously executed search warrants at Hathcock’s and Green’s residences. From Hathcock’s residence, law enforcement seized 10 grams of crack cocaine, 84 grams of cocaine, 28 grams of crystal methamphetamine, nine grams of fentanyl, 112 grams of marijuana, a .380 caliber handgun, two .45 caliber handguns, assorted ammunition, digital scales, and three Narcan nasal spray bottles. From Green’s residence, law enforcement seized 137.7 grams of crack cocaine, 52.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 159.4 grams of fentanyl, 568.8 grams of cocaine, 253 grams of marijuana, 34.6 grams of heroin, and $10,800 in U.S. currency. Green was sentenced to 11 years on October 25, 2024, for possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a quantity of cocaine. Michael F. Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and the Craven County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-CR-00035-M.


title: Repeat Federal Offender Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison after Passing Kilogram of Cocaine to Car with Three Children

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Harold Vernard Greene, Jr., age 45, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for drug trafficking with three children in a vehicle. This conviction marks Greene’s third federal conviction in the Eastern District of North Carolina. “Greene is a frequent-flyer federal felon with direct ties to Mexico based drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We won’t allow habitual narcotics traffickers to operate in our state and will be relentless in pursuing cases all the way to the foreign supplier.” In January 2023, law enforcement identified Greene meeting with drug couriers in Wilmington. Subsequently, they continued their investigation and conducted a surveillance operation on March 21, 2023. During this operation, they observed Greene travel to a parking lot at a Wilmington mall, where he received a package from a drug courier. Shortly after receiving the package, Greene handed it to a person in another vehicle. The driver of that vehicle was Greene’s girlfriend, Three minor children were present in the vehicle with Greene’s girlfriend. A search of the girlfriend’s vehicle revealed that the package given to her by Greene contained a kilogram of cocaine. Law enforcement then executed a search warrant at Greene’s apartment. At this location, they seized a loaded firearm, bulk cash, drug packaging materials, four cell phones, and varying amounts of psilocybin gummies and marijuana products—further investigation of the seized phones uncovered direct communication with drug traffickers based in Mexico. Greene’s criminal history includes two prior federal convictions: one in 2013 for cocaine trafficking that resulted in an 84-month sentence and another in 2017 for possessing drugs while in federal prison, leading to an additional 24-month sentence. Additionally, Greene has four state felony convictions for drug trafficking. “This career criminal is a tragic example of individuals who have wanton disregard for the safety of our community, including children as was the case in this investigation,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA’s efforts in bringing him to justice will ensure he spends well deserved time in prison.” “I am extremely proud of the men and women of the WPD for their tireless work on this case. As is evident with his prior criminal record, the suspect continues to disrespect the law and disregards the safety of others. In this case, he also endangered several children. Our agency will not tolerate criminals who seek to place the stability of their illegal operations over the well-being and safety of our citizens. I want to thank all of those who worked on this case and appreciate the continued efforts by U.S. Attorney Easley to ensure a lengthy prison sentence that fits the crime,” said Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams. Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The DEA, SBI, and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons prosecuted the case. This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for the case number 7:23-CR-00103-D.


title: New York man pleads guilty after drunken behavior forced flight to be diverted

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A New York man who threatened flight attendants and fellow passengers pled guilty today to interference with a flight crew. According to court documents, on May 13, 2023, James Tyqwon Ford, 31, was a passenger on a nonstop flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to New York. Prior to the first beverage service, flight crew members smelled the odor of alcohol aboard the aircraft and made a general announcement that passengers are prohibited from consuming personal alcohol aboard the aircraft. Following the announcement, Ford became disruptive, being disrespectful toward to and using profanity against the flight crew. A flight attendant advised Ford that cursing at the flight crew is not tolerated, reiterated that he could not consume personal alcohol aboard the aircraft, and notified him that law enforcement would be called when the flight landed. Ford responded with additional lewd comments and stated that the police would have to catch him first. Ford later walked to the rear galley of the aircraft and approached another flight attendant. Ford made physical threats against the first flight attendant, including that he wished to punch her in the face and shoot her. Passengers informed flight crew members that Ford was making them fear for their safety by making lewd comments, stating that he brought a firearm aboard the plane, and threatening to “tear the plane apart.” Ford’s wife attempted to remove a bottle of Hennessy from his possession, leading to an altercation and Ford had to be separated from her by other passengers for her to escape to a different section of the aircraft. Ford then approached crew members at the rear galley of the plane a second time, threatening to have friends in New York follow the crew members to their hotel and “destroy them.” Ford’s disruptive behavior, threats, and actions towards his wife forced the flight to divert from its intended destination of New York, landing instead in Richmond. Law enforcement officers met the flight upon landing and removed Ford from the plane. Ford is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Jordan-Detamore is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-142.


title: United States Settles Claim Against New York Dermatology Practice Whose Medical Doctor Refused to Perform a Medical Procedure on an HIV-Positive Patient

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today a settlement with Advanced Dermatology, P.C. (Advanced Dermatology), a New York-based practice with dermatology offices located throughout the metropolitan area and other states, resolving allegations that one of its medical doctors violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA), by refusing to perform a scheduled procedure on an individual with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) until the end of the day after all other patients had been treated or reschedule his appointment for another day when no other patients were being treated. Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in places of public accommodation such as medical facilities. HIV is a disability that falls within the protection of the ADA. Advance Dermatology cooperated with the United States’ investigation and in resolving the matter. “This settlement reflects this Office’s commitment to robust enforcement of the ADA and ensuring that patients with HIV have access to medical care,” stated United States Attorney Peace. This matter was initiated after the U.S. Department of Justice received a complaint from John Doe, [1] an individual who is HIV-positive. John Doe alleged that a dermatologist employed by Advanced Dermatology at its Fresh Meadows, New York office refused to perform a Mohs micrographic surgery on a scheduled date and time. The surgical procedure had been scheduled to treat John Doe’s basal cell carcinoma. The United States’ investigation determined that the dermatologist refused to perform the scheduled surgery, and that the dermatologist told John Doe that the reason for his refusal was John Doe’s HIV-positive status and concern for the safety of a technician working with the doctor. The dermatologist told John Doe that he would need to wait until the end of the day after all other patients had been treated or reschedule his appointment for another day when no other patients were being treated. John Doe left Advanced Dermatology that day without being treated. The United States determined that Advanced Dermatology discriminated against John Doe on the basis of his HIV status in violation of Title III of the ADA. Under the terms of the settlement, Advanced Dermatology will ensure that its policies and practices are brought into compliance with Title III of the ADA, adopt a non-discrimination policy establishing that Advanced Dermatology does not discriminate in providing services to those with disabilities, and train its staff annually about HIV/AIDS and discrimination. Advanced Dermatology will also pay a civil penalty of $15,000 to the United States. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no admission or determination of liability. This matter was handled by the Office’s Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cooper is in charge of the prosecution. [1] John Doe is identified by a pseudonym to protect his privacy.


title: Environmental Manager Sentenced to Prison for Stealing From Employer

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Michael Mayfield has been sentenced to prison for defrauding his employer of over $1.2 million. “Mayfield devised a false invoicing scheme to betray and defraud his employer of more than $1 million,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This sentencing sends a clear message to others that our office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold criminals accountable for stealing from employers who trust them.” “Mayfield betrayed the trust his company had in him then used the fraudulently gained money for personal use and to try and build his reputation in the community,” said FBI Atlanta’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. “Our agents work every day to hold criminals like Mayfield accountable for their actions.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Michael Mayfield was an environmental manager at the Mars Wrigley factory in Flowery Branch, Georgia. In that role, he oversaw the Health, Safety, and Environmental and Recycling Programs. The recycling waste produced at the factory was valuable and companies often made direct payments or sent Mars Wrigley rebate checks after disposal of the material. But unbeknownst to Mars Wrigley, Mayfield diverted the checks to his own company, WWJ Recycling. The fraudulently obtained checks totaled over $500,000. Mayfield used the funds to pay for hunting trips worth more than $100,000, a donation to his church for more than $80,000, and more than $200,000 in personal checks. Mayfield also directed his co-conspirator to create false invoices from ASA Safety Supply, a supplier to Mars Wrigley. The co-conspirator sent the invoiced items to Mayfield for his personal use and then submitted false invoices from ASA Safety Supply to Mars Wrigley for payment. The purchased items included football supplies for the Flowery Branch High School football team, such as cleats and clothing, improvements to the stadium, tickets to a University of Georgia football game, and gift cards. These false invoices totaled over $199,000. Mayfield also sent invoices from WWJ Recycling to ASA Safety Supply. His co-conspirator directed ASA Safety Supply to pay those invoices and then submit the false invoices to Mars Wrigley for payment for work that was not done. The WWJ Recycle invoices totaled over $750,000. Mayfield engaged in this scheme from as early as December 2016 until sometime in 2022. Ultimately, Mars paid over $1.2 million because of Mayfield’s fraudulent scheme. Michael Mayfield, 55, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,269,457.56. Mayfield was convicted of these charges on August 19, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Justice Department Announces Successful Conclusion of Agreement with the City of Yonkers, New York and the Yonkers Police Department to Ensure Constitutional Policing

body_text: The Justice Department announced today the successful conclusion of its agreement with the City of Yonkers, New York, and the Yonkers Police Department (YPD). The agreement required YPD to improve its policies and practices regarding the use of force, stops, searches, and arrests, the protection of First Amendment rights, misconduct investigations and discipline, and community policing. Over the past eight years, the city and YPD have implemented all of the reforms required by the agreement and sustained those reforms for more than a year. Today, the Justice Department agreed to terminate the agreement and commends the city and YPD on their achievements. “The success of Yonkers and the Yonkers Police Department under this agreement demonstrates the fundamental truth that fair, constitutional and effective policing can enhance public safety and promote trust between police and the community they are sworn to protect and serve,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Through this agreement, the city and YPD have significantly decreased settlement payouts on excessive force claims, and from 2017 to 2023, violent crimes in Yonkers also fell substantially. We commend YPD leadership, including former YPD Commissioners Charles Gardner and John Mueller, current YPD Commissioner Christopher Sapienza, as well as civilian staff and officers for their commitment to ensure constitutional policing for the people of Yonkers. Our settlements with police departments are of little utility unless real work and effort is put in to ensure that reforms are brought to life and successfully implemented.” “Since the commencement of our investigation in 2007, the Yonkers Police Department has worked assiduously and cooperatively to implement significant reforms which ensure that its officers are well trained, well informed and guided on appropriate uses of force, and that a thorough and robust review system is in place to identify potentially problematic incidents, officers, training and tactics,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “The Yonkers Police Department has achieved substantial compliance with all provisions of the agreement and established policies and programs that demonstrate a dedication and commitment to serving the community and ensuring its safety and well-being. I commend the Yonkers Police Department for its efforts.” Over the period the agreement has been in place, there are substantial indications that the agreement has led to improvements in the constitutionality and effectiveness of YPD’s policing. The city has experienced a significant reduction in excessive force settlement payouts due to a marked decrease in allegations of unlawful uses of force. YPD’s Internal Affairs Department has dramatically improved its average times to complete critical use-of-force investigations, from 245 days in 2019, down to 69 days in 2023. YPD’s Internal Affairs Department has significantly reduced its average times for completing civilian misconduct complaint investigations, from 236 days in 2019, to 72 days in 2023. The City of Yonkers has also experienced a 22% reduction in violent crimes over the last five years. The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York jointly handled the matter. The Justice Department’s investigations have led to significant reforms of law enforcement agencies nationwide. For example, the Seattle Police Department reduced the use of serious force by 60%, and Seattle officers now use force in less than one-quarter of 1% of all events to which they respond. In Baltimore, the independent consent decree monitor found that officers use force less often and the force they do use is more likely to be consistent with department policy and the law. And under the consent decree in Albuquerque, use of force declined by 25% and violations of the force policy fell by half. The technical assistance letter for Yonkers can be found here . The settlement agreement with Yonkers can be found here . Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work can be found here .


title: Armed Felon Sentenced to 15 Years Following Rampage in Harnett County

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Fayetteville man was sentenced to 180 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after attempting to carjack man with a loaded gun in Harnett County. On May 9, 2024, Terry A. Frederick pleaded guilty to the charge. According to court documents and other evidence presented in court, on the evening of January 31, 2023, Frederick, 40, was seen walking near Hodges Chapel Road and I-95 in Harnett County. Witnesses reported that Frederick shouted threats at people in the area and fired a handgun. He then approached a man in a pickup truck, trying to pull him from the vehicle. However, the truck driver managed to close the door and drive away. Frederick subsequently fired at least one shot at the truck. When police attempted to arrest Frederick, he resisted. Officers eventually arrested him and discovered a partially loaded, stolen .40 caliber pistol in his jacket pocket. Frederick has a history of multiple felony convictions, including drug and property crimes. 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. Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Dunn Police Department and the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Nokes prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-108-D-RJ.


title: Jacksonville Convicted Child Sex Offender Pleads Guilty To Producing Videos And Photos Depicting The Sexual Abuse Of A Child

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kevin John Merritt (63, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to producing videos and photos of him sexually abusing a child. Merritt faces a minimum penalty of 25 years, up to 50 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. Merritt is a registered sex offender, having been convicted in August 2011 of possessing child sexual abuse materials. Merritt was arrested on March 16, 2023, and has been in custody since that time. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 18, 2025. According to court documents, an investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a “CyberTipline Report” from an online social media app advising that certain files depicting child sexual abuse materials had been sent through the messaging function on the app on September 14, 2022, by user “Jackie Frost” to another user who was ultimately identified and located in Jacksonville. This information was forwarded to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) for further investigation. JSO detectives obtained search warrants and subpoenas for the internet and cellphone service providers and social media apps that were connected to Merritt. The investigation confirmed that the user “Jackie Frost” was Merritt, and that Merritt had distributed child sexual abuse materials to another individual. On March 16, 2023, JSO detectives and other personnel executed a search warrant at Merritt’s residence. Merritt was at the home and was arrested. Several of Merritt’s electronic devices were seized, including his cellphone. Forensic examination of the cellphone revealed an email account that was linked to the “Jackie Frost” social media account. It also contained more than 100 photos and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor child who was later identified. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown and Elisibeth Adams. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Ontario Man Arrested on Complaint Alleging He Exported Shipments of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Military Items to North Korea

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A San Bernardino County man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging that he exported to North Korea shipments of firearms, ammunition and other military items that were concealed inside shipping containers bound from Long Beach. Shenghua Wen, 41, of Ontario, is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a felony that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Wen – a Chinese national illegally residing in the United States – was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. His arraignment is expected to occur in the coming weeks. “It is essential that we protect our country from hostile foreign states that have adverse interests to our nation,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We have arrested a defendant who allegedly acted at the direction of the North Korean government by conspiring to illegally ship firearms, ammunition, and other military equipment to North Korea. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners for stopping this threat and their tireless commitment to the security of our nation.” “The significance of this arrest and discovery of this scheme cannot be overstated,” said FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis. “Not only did the investigative team prevent additional restricted items going to the North Korean regime, but they gathered valuable intelligence for the United States and our allies. I’m proud of the hard work that went into building the case against Wen by dedicated agents and our partners who specialize in cases that involve illegal exports to foreign adversaries who evade sanctions and utilize weapons and technology for nefarious purposes.” According to an affidavit filed on November 26 with the complaint, Wen obtained firearms, ammunition, and export-controlled technology with the intention of shipping them to North Korea – a violation of federal law and United States sanctions against that nation. Wen and his co-conspirators allegedly exported shipments of firearms and ammunition to North Korea by concealing the items inside shipping containers that were shipped from Long Beach through Hong Kong to North Korea. On August 14, law enforcement seized at Wen’s home two devices that he intended to send to North Korea for military use: a chemical threat identification device and a hand-held broadband receiver that detects eavesdropping devices. On September 6, law enforcement seized approximately 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that Wen allegedly obtained to send to North Korea. A review of Wen’s iPhone revealed to law enforcement that in December 2023, Wen smuggled items from Long Beach to Hong Kong with their destination being North Korea. Messages retrieved from Wen’s cellphones revealed discussions he had earlier this year with co-conspirators about shipping military-grade equipment to North Korea. Some of these messages include photographs that Wen sent of items controlled for export under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. From January 2024 to April 2024, Wen sent emails and text messages to a U.S.-based broker about obtaining a civilian plane engine. There also were several text messages on Wen’s iPhone concerning price negotiation for the plane and its engine. Wen is a Chinese national who is illegally in the United States after overstaying his student visa and is therefore prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition. Wen lacks the required licenses from the U.S. government to export ammunition, firearms, and the other devices that law enforcement seized at his home to North Korea. “The results of today’s arrest and search warrants are a testament to HSI and our partner agencies commitment to national security and protecting our sensitive technology” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson. “It is a federal crime to illegally obtain and export certain US technologies by foreign countries and those who seek to circumvent the law will be thoroughly investigated.” “Mr. Wen’s arrest is a significant advancement in our collective efforts towards protecting our national security, safeguarding sensitive U.S. technologies and other export-controlled items, and ensuring accountability for the alleged bad actions,” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “The defendant’s alleged attempts to illicitly export firearms and military technology from the United States at the behest of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea constitute an alarming violation of sanctions and export control laws,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Dunlap of the Office of Export Enforcement, Los Angeles Field Office. “OEE is committed to working with our federal partners to identify and disrupt illegal export schemes that undermine regional stability and our national security interests at home and abroad.” 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. The FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; DCIS; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah E. Gerdes of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking Operation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Sean Jarred Davis, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for operating a fentanyl trafficking organization in Hampshire and Mineral Counties. According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis, also known as “Mike” and “Mike White,” was supplying large quantities of fentanyl and heroin, delivering the drugs to others in Hampshire and Mineral Counties to sell on his behalf. Davis will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, led the investigation. The Task Force consists of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keyser Police Department. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Successful Conclusion Of Agreement With City Of Yonkers And Yonkers Police Department To Ensure Commitment To Constitutional Policing

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, announced today the successful conclusion of the United States’ long-running investigation into the Yonkers Police Department (YPD) under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. In November 2016 , the U.S., the City, and YPD entered into an agreement to implement and improve upon policies and procedures in the areas of use of force, citizen complaints, use-of-force and misconduct investigations, supervisory oversight, and training. Today, the U.S. agreed to terminate the agreement and commends the City and YPD on their achievements. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Since the commencement of our investigation in 2007, the Yonkers Police Department has worked assiduously and cooperatively to implement significant reforms which ensure that its officers are well trained, well informed, and guided on appropriate uses of force, and that a thorough and robust review system is in place to identify potentially problematic incidents, officers, training, and tactics. The Yonkers Police Department has achieved substantial compliance with all provisions of the agreement and established policies and programs that demonstrate a dedication and commitment to serving the community and ensuring its safety and well-being. I commend the Yonkers Police Department for its efforts.” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said: “The success of Yonkers and the Yonkers Police Department under this agreement demonstrates the fundamental truth that fair, constitutional and effective policing can enhance public safety and promote trust between police and the community they are sworn to protect and serve. Through this agreement, the city and YPD have significantly decreased settlement payouts on excessive force claims, and from 2017 to 2023, violent crimes in Yonkers also fell substantially. We commend YPD leadership, including former YPD Commissioners Charles Gardner and John Mueller, current YPD Commissioner Christopher Sapienza, as well as civilian staff and officers for their commitment to ensure constitutional policing for the people of Yonkers. Our settlements with police departments are of little utility unless real work and effort is put in to ensure that reforms are brought to life and successfully implemented.” The successful conclusion of the agreement between the U.S., the City of Yonkers, and the YPD resolves a long-running investigation into YPD. In 2009, the U.S. issued a technical assistance letter highlighting concerns regarding the overall content and structure of YPD’s policies and procedures manual, with specific focus on YPD’s use-of-force policies, investigations of its officers’ use of force, the lack of supervisory oversight, its training program and materials, community relations, and its recruitment and evaluation of personnel. After issuing the 2009 technical assistance letter, the U.S. conducted further reviews of YPD’s revised policies and procedures, use-of-force reports, and citizen complaint investigations through early 2015. These reviews indicated that the concerns underlying the recommendations in the 2009 letter had not been sufficiently addressed. Following extensive negotiations, in November 2016, the U.S., the City, and YPD entered into an agreement requiring YPD to: maintain and implement clear policies to avoid using excessive and unreasonable force; timely document and review uses of force; maintain and implement clear and appropriate policies on investigatory stops and detentions, as well as searches and arrests; develop a system to collect data on all investigatory stops and searches, except stops purely for traffic enforcement; ensure the transparency and accessibility of the misconduct complaint process and investigate all misconduct complaints fully and fairly; continue the development and implementation of a computerized risk management system to identify and respond to potentially problematic incidents, officers, units, training and tactics; continue to maintain and build community relationships and engage constructively with the community; develop a survey to measure officer outreach to a cross-section of community members in each precinct; and ensure that officers and supervisors receive appropriate levels of training in constitutional policing. The agreement also required YPD to ensure the First Amendment rights of onlookers or bystanders to witness, observe, record, and/or comment on officer conduct. The agreement further provided that consultants retained by the Justice Department would conduct compliance reviews to ensure that YPD has implemented the measures required by the agreement. Finally, the agreement provided for termination once the U.S. agreed that YPD had achieved substantial compliance with all provisions and had maintained substantial compliance for 12 months. Since the agreement was executed, the U.S. and its consultant, Charles Reynolds, the former president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, have had full access to YPD and its records. The U.S. has requested, reviewed, and commented on: YPD’s revised use-of-force policies and procedures, and policies protecting the public’s right to observe and record officer conduct; use-of-force reporting and command-level reviews of use-of-force reports at all levels of force; misconduct complaint investigations; stop and search reports; the implementation and use of YPD’s Risk Management System; training materials; and community policing initiatives. Over the period the agreement has been in place, there are substantial indicia that the agreement has led to improvements in the constitutionality and effectiveness of YPD’s policing. The City of Yonkers has experienced a significant reduction in excessive force settlement payouts due to a marked decrease in allegations of unlawful uses of force. Additionally, YPD’s Internal Affairs Department has dramatically improved its average times to complete critical use-of-force investigations, from 245 days in 2019, down to 69 days in 2023. Similarly, YPD’s Internal Affairs Department has significantly reduced its average times for completing civilian misconduct complaint investigations, from 236 days in 2019, to 72 days in 2023. The City of Yonkers has also experienced a 22% reduction in violent crimes over the last five years. YPD has also implemented or enhanced programs beyond what is required by the agreement. In August 2020, YPD instituted a trial body-worn camera program, which has been expanded to require that all Field Services Division officers, as well as officers designated by the Commissioner, use body-worn cameras. YPD has also substantially increased the length of its Field Training Officer program, by mandating that recruits undergo 256 field training hours to be certified as an officer. YPD also maintains a Crisis Negotiation Team that is one of the largest of its kind in the New York City metropolitan area, and whose core mission is to use de-escalation techniques to resolve volatile life-threatening situations without the use of force. YPD’s Community Affairs Division is also actively engaged in multiple programs, outreach, and community-based cooperative projects. YPD is currently engaged in over 40 outreach programs and participates in over 70 school events every year. YPD’s leadership has been instrumental in making these changes. U.S. Attorney Williams praised the work of former YPD Commissioners Charles Gardner and John Mueller, current YPD Commissioner Christopher Sapienza, and the civilian staff and sworn officers of the Yonkers Police Department. The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tomoko Onozawa is charge of the case.


title: Great Falls woman admits to trafficking meth in community

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls woman accused of distributing methamphetamine and traveling outside of Montana to pick up the drug admitted to a conspiracy charge on Monday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Melissa Ann Barone, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth. Barone faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for March 26, 2025. Barone was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that Barone was involved in distributing meth in the Great Falls area and elsewhere from January 2020 until about April 2024. Numerous individuals who purchased or received meth from Barone corroborated Barone’s involvement. The government alleged that Barone was a drug runner for her co-defendant, Daniel Allen Wakeford, who pleaded guilty to charges and is pending sentencing, and that she borrowed vehicles to travel outside of Montana to pick up meth. As part of her guilty plea, Barone agreed to forfeit cash totaling $74,951 that was seized from a motorhome and two BMWs, an AK-47 pistol and magazine, a 2016 BMW and a 2002 40-foot motorhome. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS, Great Falls Police Department and Russell Country Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . XXX


title: Schererville Man Sentenced to 168 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Erik P. Grant, 32 years old, of Schererville, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Grant was sentenced to 168 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Grant and his mother, co-defendant Debra Moore, conspired to distribute methamphetamine between November 2022 and July 2023. While detained at the Porter County Jail, Moore assumed control of his methamphetamine dealing operation, selling the drug on multiple occasions. Grant has an extensive criminal history which includes six prior felony convictions. This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Toth.


title: Alleged Child Molester Identified By His Distinctive Tattoos

body_text: An alleged child molester has been identified and charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Christopher Lynn Driskill, 48, formerly identified by the FBI as “ John Doe 49 ,” thought to have critical information about ongoing child sexual exploitation, was identified on November 18. He was charged via criminal complaint with production of child pornography, arrested on Nov. 26, and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John R. Parker on Tuesday. According to court documents, in July 2024, a foreign partner referred child sexual abuse material posted on the dark web to the FBI’s Victim Identification Program. In the videos, an unknown male subject with several distinctive tattoos – including the word “DABBY” on his chest,” the number “197x” on his left bicep, the words “CAST NO STONES” on his left forearm, and a Texas flag in the shape of a head on his right forearm – can be seen sexually assaulting a prepubescent male. Separately, in September 2024, Mr. Driskill’s former dating partner reported to the Coleman Police Department that Mr. Driskill had confessed, while intoxicated, to molesting a child and recording it. Officers met with the child, who did not make an outcry, and interviewed Mr. Driskill, who denied sexually abusing the child and claimed his former partner was mad at him over a bad breakup. With no additional evidence at the time, the police department closed their investigation. However, the recorded interview with Mr. Driskill showed a “CAST NO STONES” tattoo on his left forearm, a 1975 tattoo on his left bicep, and part of a Texas flag in the shape of a head on his right forearm. Meanwhile, FBI agents searching for John Doe 49 located a public Instagram account whose profile picture appeared similar to the images of the subject in the child sexual abuse material. They traced the account to Mr. Driskill in Coleman, Texas. On Nov. 22, agents coordinating with Coleman Police Department learned of the investigation into a possible molestation involving Mr. Driskill, and compared the footage of his interview to the child sexual abuse material. The face and tattoos allegedly matched. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Driskill is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the help of the Bureau’s Endangered Child Alert Program ( ECAP ). Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Tusing is prosecuting the case.


title: California Man Arrested for Allegedly Exporting Shipments of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Military Items to North Korea

body_text: Shenghua Wen, 41, of Ontario, California, was arrested today on a criminal complaint alleging that he exported shipments of firearms, ammunition and other military items to North Korea that were concealed inside shipping containers bound from Long Beach. Wen, a Chinese national illegally residing in the United States, was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in the Central District of California. According to an affidavit filed on Nov. 26 with the complaint, Wen obtained firearms, ammunition, and export-controlled technology with the intention of shipping them to North Korea — a violation of federal law and United States sanctions against that nation. Wen and his co-conspirators allegedly exported shipments of firearms and ammunition to North Korea by concealing the items inside shipping containers that were shipped from Long Beach through Hong Kong to North Korea. On Aug. 14, law enforcement seized at Wen’s home two devices that he intended to send to North Korea for military use: a chemical threat identification device and a hand-held broadband receiver that detects eavesdropping devices. On Sept. 6, law enforcement seized approximately 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that Wen allegedly obtained to send to North Korea. A review of Wen’s iPhone revealed to law enforcement that in December 2023, Wen smuggled items from Long Beach to Hong Kong with their destination being North Korea. Messages retrieved from Wen’s cellphones revealed discussions he had earlier this year with co-conspirators about shipping military-grade equipment to North Korea. Some of these messages include photographs that Wen sent of items controlled for export under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. From January to April, Wen sent emails and text messages to a U.S.-based broker about obtaining a civilian plane engine. There also were several text messages on Wen’s iPhone concerning price negotiation for the plane and its engine. Wen is a Chinese national who is illegally in the United States after overstaying his student visa and is therefore prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition. Wen lacks the required licenses from the U.S. government to export ammunition, firearms, and the other devices that law enforcement seized at his home to North Korea. Wen is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Gerdes for the Central District of California and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: DOJ sends nearly $12 million to Washington State for drug treatment programs

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – Nearly $12 million is headed to Washington State from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to support drug treatment programs statewide, in specific counties, and tribal communities, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “These DOJ grants recognize the need for treatment in our state, and also highlight the good work being done here to break the cycle of addiction,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “It is a competitive process to get this funding and I congratulate the counties, tribes and organizations who successfully applied for these grants.” The largest award, $7 million, is to the Washington State Health Care Authority to bolster and support substance use treatment programs in the community as well as in state jails and correctional institutions. The grant also pays for opioid overdose training for law enforcement and a peer mentoring program for those leaving prison with substance use disorder. Pierce County was awarded $1.6 million to improve substance abuse treatment options in rural areas. The program will focus on justice involved adults. The results will be studied for best practices. Grays Harbor County was awarded $1 million to enhance the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment available in the Grays Harbor County Jail. With these additional grant funds, the county will provide mental health as well as substance use disorder treatment and will work with the Coastal Community Action Program to make services available to those transitioning from jail and prison to the community. The private non-profit Progress House Association was awarded $833,000 to enhance treatment and recovery services for 170 people across King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston Counties who are currently incarcerated. The funding will enhance treatment for substance use disorder as well as co-occurring mental health disorders. Finally, two tribal nations were awarded grants for their substance use and mental health treatment programs. The Tulalip Tribes of Washington was awarded $718,151 to expand the Tulalip Tribes Family Wellness Court. The money will provide for a dedicated Social Worker and Recovery Support specialist to provide services directly to families impacted by substance abuse disorder. The goal is to reunify families and reduce the number of children in long-term out of home care. The Lummi Nation received $550,000 to implement a Mental Health Court for tribal citizens impacted by both mental health challenges and substance use disorder. The program is designed to enhance treatment support with integrated treatment plans.


title: Moorhead, Minnesota, Real Estate Company Sentenced for Failing to Provide Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on December 3, 2024, U.S. Magistrate Judge Alice R. Senechal sentenced Valley Property Partners LLC, d/b/a “House Dudes,” a Moorhead, Minnesota, based real estate company, to: 1) pay $4,274.78. in restitution and $10,000 in fines; 2) serve one-year probation; and 3) perform 50 hours of community service for failing to provide a home purchaser with lead-based paint disclosures as required by the Toxic Substances Control Act. As part of the sentence in this case, Valley Property Partners LLC has agreed to include a notice on its website about the harmful effects of lead-based paint exposure and its required obligations to home buyers pertaining to lead-based paint disclosures. As stated in the information and plea agreement, On October 16, 2019, Valley Property Partners LLC sold a pre-1978 built home, located in Hillsboro, North Dakota, to a purchaser but failed to provide this purchaser with required lead-based paint disclosures in violation of the Toxic Substances Control Act. In April 2022, medical personnel diagnosed two children, aged between one and two years old at the time, who were living at the residence, with elevated blood lead levels. In June 2022, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) conducted an inspection for the presence of lead-based paint at the home located in Hillsboro, North Dakota. During this inspection, NDDEQ obtained positive results for lead-based paint in multiple areas of the home, including in areas of the children’s playroom. “The Toxic Substances Control Act protects kids and homebuyers, and while most sellers make the required disclosures in good faith, there can be serious health impacts on children when the law is violated,” Schneider said. “As this case shows, there are also legal consequences for the violators. I want to thank our career prosecutors and their federal and state partners for providing accountability and reaching a fair outcome in this case.” “Childhood lead exposure remains a significant public health concern and the EPA is committed to reducing lead exposures among children, who are the most vulnerable to the effects of lead,” said Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA CID) in North Dakota. “The actions of the defendant in this case resulted in two childhood lead exposures, which could have been prevented if the defendant had followed the law. Today’s sentencing demonstrates that those who violate our nation’s environmental laws and place children at risk will be held accountable for their actions.” This case was investigated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek prosecuted this case. ######


title: Kalamazoo Man Pleads Guilty To Possession With Intent To Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: LANSING – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Lonnie Morrow, 33, of Kalamazoo, Michigan pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Morrow is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2024, and faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. “As little as two milligrams of fentanyl (a few grains of sand) can kill,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “The trafficking of illegal drugs, especially fentanyl, is driving the ongoing epidemic of drug poisoning deaths here at home and across the United States. My office is committed to disrupting the flow of these poisons into our communities.” According to the plea agreement, Morrow possessed approximately 10,800 pills containing fentanyl, weighing over 1,100 grams, which he intended to distribute. During a traffic stop on March 9, 2024, officers with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) and the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET) located the fentanyl pills in a bag concealed under Morrow’s seat. During a subsequent search, law enforcement also found three firearms, ammunition, cocaine, and over $12,000 in U.S. currency in Morrow’s apartment. According to the Centers for Disease Control (see here ), in 2023 at least 107,543 people died from drug poisoning across the United States, which is near the all-time high of 111,029 deaths in 2022. In Michigan, at least 2,931 people died from drug poisoning in 2023. Approximately 75% of the 2023 drug poisoning deaths across the United States were due to fentanyl. While current data shows a noticeable decrease in drug-related deaths across the nation, the numbers remain high. The following services are available for people experiencing addiction, or their friends and loved ones: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, www.samhsa.gov/find-support/in-crisis . Cope Network (providing free Naloxone and other harm reduction services in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Calhoun, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties), 269-580-8290, www.copenetwork.org . The Grand Rapids Red Project (providing free Naloxone and other harm reduction services in Kent and Muskegon Counties), 616-456-9063 (Kent County), 231-563-6865 (Muskegon County), www.redproject.org . The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has a webpage that identifies county-by-county services. The KDPS and KVET investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney Will Thompson to Honor Excellence in Law Enforcement at Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, December 4, 2024

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will honor more than 80 law enforcement professionals during the 2024 Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse in Charleston. The annual awards ceremony recognizes the exemplary service of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have provided invaluable assistance to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia in cases and initiatives. Thompson will present awards for outstanding law enforcement work on major cases involving drug crimes, violent crimes, white collar crimes and the sexual exploitation of minors. Thompson will also present awards honoring the Law Enforcement Officers of the Year, the Drug and Violent Crime Task Force of the year, and the Outstanding Community Partner. WHAT: 2024 Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony WHEN: Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 10 a.m. WHERE: Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse, Charleston, Fifth Floor *** NOTICE: cameras and other recording devices will be permitted on the fifth floor of the Courthouse for the ceremony only. *** A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. ###


title: Eastern Panhandle Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Charge

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Steven James Priore, 41, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for the possession of child pornography. According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip of uploaded child pornography from an email address traced back to Priore. A search of Priore’s home resulted in the seizure of devices that contained images and videos depicting child pornography. Prior was also ordered to pay $65,000 in restitution. He will serve supervised release for life following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Virginia Man Sentenced for Firearms Charge

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Jamar Handon, 33, of Arlington, Virginia, was sentenced to 114 months in prison for aiding and abetting the false statement during the purchase of a firearm. According to court documents, Handon worked with others to straw purchase firearms in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties. Handon is prohibited from having firearms because of prior convictions of violent felon in possession/transport of a weapon, and possession of ammunition. Handon will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Federal Inmate Admits to Stabbing, Sentenced

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Sean Robin Howard, 22, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institution Hazelton in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stabbing another inmate. Howard pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury. According to court documents, Howard was involved in a verbal dispute with another inmate in a housing unit. Howard stabbed the inmate in the neck area and caused a serious wound. The inmate was transported to a hospital and was treated for his injuries. Howard’s sentence is to be served consecutively to his current sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Queens Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Robbing Bank While on Parole

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Gerald DeRosse was sentenced by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 180 months in prison for committing a violent robbery of a Ridgewood Savings Bank in Queens, New York. He is also required to pay $205 in restitution and $205 in forfeiture. DeRosse pleaded guilty to the charge in May 2024. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office, announced the sentence. “The defendant, a serial bank robber, chose to terrorize hard-working bank tellers and customers, for his own selfish purposes. The victims, including an elderly woman the defendant locked in a chokehold, will never forget that day,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “It is a vital part of our mission to protect our community, and my Office will continue to tirelessly prosecute repeat offenders who show no respect for the law.” “While on parole for a prior bank robbery, Gerald DeRosse once again terrorized our city by committing the same crime in which he utilized an innocent bystander as collateral to ensure his demands were met,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “DeRosse's actions carelessly endangered the lives of others out of personal greed. The FBI will not tolerate repeat offenders who consistently threaten the safety of our city and its citizens.” As described in the government’s sentencing memorandum and other court documents, on April 6, 2023, DeRosse entered a branch of Ridgewood Savings Bank on Myrtle Avenue in Glendale, Queens, grabbed an elderly bank customer around the neck, and yelled that he was going to “blow her f-----g brains out” if the bank teller did not give him money. Another customer hid under a desk during the robbery. A screenshot from the bank’s video surveillance system, showing this harrowing moment, appears below. The bank teller obeyed DeRosse’s demand and gave him $205 in cash. DeRosse then fled, but he was identified and arrested by the FBI a few weeks later. DeRosse previously had been convicted of robbery-related crimes on at least seven occasions and was on parole, having served a 13-year sentence for bank robbery at the time he committed this bank robbery. He had been released from state prison less than a month earlier. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca M. Schuman is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : Gerald DeRosse Age: 55 Broad Channel, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-221 (WFK)


title: Hartford Man Sentenced to 34 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Multiple Firearms

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WESLEY S. PEARSON, 26, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 34 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing firearms. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 16, 2023, Bloomfield Police arrested Pearson after a domestic violence incident. Later that day, having applied for and received a Risk Protection Order from the Connecticut Superior Court, police searched the Bloomfield home where Pearson had been residing and seized three Glock handguns, two that were affixed with a “switch” that converted them to fully automatic firearms and a third that had an obliterated serial number; an L.A.R. Mfg. Grizzly15, multicaliber, short-barreled rifle; a privately manufactured AR-style pistol (“ghost gun”); 24 firearm magazines, including two high-capacity magazines; approximately 280 rounds of ammunition; and other firearm accessories. The investigation revealed that Pearson directed music videos, under the name “The Kid Wes,” which featured suspected Hartford gang members celebrating gang violence and drug trafficking, among other topics. He also created his own videos, including one titled “Pray for Me” in which he raps “we outside every day on that strip…we got them Glocks with a switch, come out and play us, at least a hundred shots.” Pearson was previously convicted in state court of a felony drug offense. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Pearson has been detained since May 16, 2023. On June 3, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This investigation was conducted by the Bloomfield Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Dearington. 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 gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man who distributed thousands of fentanyl pills pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing fentanyl and several firearms. Keaveon Zaniyah T. Harris, 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. By pleading guilty today, Harris admitted that he was in possession of hundreds of fentanyl pills and several firearms when he was stopped by Columbia police officers on May 10, 2023. Officers searched his vehicle during the traffic stop and found a bag near the middle console that contained 832 fake Percocet pills, which were actually fentanyl, as well as multiple broken pills. Officers also found 105 additional pills in a pill bottle near the shifter, and a cigarette package that contained about 15 crushed pills. On the passenger side rear floorboard, officers found a loaded Taurus revolver and a loaded Springfield 9mm handgun with a drum magazine. On the driver’s side rear floorboard, officers found a Zastava Drako pistol. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Harris has a prior felony conviction for stealing. When investigators searched Harris’s phone, they found evidence that he was selling thousands of fentanyl pills to multiple customers. Messages indicated his partner traveled to Arizona at least twice to purchase fake Percocet pills, then mailed them to Harris in Columbia. Three packages of fake Percocet pills mailed to Harris weighed a total of approximately 4.8 kilograms. Under federal statutes, Harris is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 35 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Pierce. It was investigated by the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Project Safe Neighborhoods 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.