title: Part-Owner of Internet Provider for U.S. Troops at Kandahar Airfield Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

body_text: WASHINGTON – A U.S. businessman pleaded guilty today to evading his federal income taxes. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia made the announcement. According to court documents and statements made in court, since 2007, Robert N. Dooner has lived outside the United States, intermittently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ibiza, Spain. Starting in approximately 2007, Dooner worked as a business associate of Individual-1, an American living abroad. Together with others, including Individual-1, Dooner formed a joint venture incorporated in the UAE to provide internet services to U.S. military personnel at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. Individual-1 helped fund the joint venture with proceeds from Company-1 – a business providing commodities to the U.S. Department of Defense in Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. For 2015 through 2019, Dooner evaded taxes owed to the IRS by underreporting to his tax preparer the profits he earned from his ownership interest in the joint venture, as well as other compensation he received through his work for Individual-1. Dooner diverted his distributions to UAE bank accounts in the name of a Dubai-based shell company and then tried to conceal the foreign bank account records when they were specifically requested by U.S. authorities. In total, Dooner concealed approximately $2 million he earned from 2015 through 2019, causing a tax loss to the IRS of more than $744,977. Dooner is the fifth defendant associated with the defense contracting company to plead guilty. Charles Squires pleaded guilty to tax evasion in February 2022, James Robar pleaded guilty to tax evasion in March 2022, Ronald “Ron” Thomas pleaded guilty to tax evasion in April 2022, and Zachary “Zack” Friedman pleaded guilty to tax evasion in August 2022. Dooner faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction are investigating the case. Assistance was provided by the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), which brings together the taxing authorities of Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Tax Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office thank His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom for their extensive assistance in this matter. Senior Litigation Counsel Nanette Davis and Trial Attorneys Sarah Ranney and Ezra Spiro of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Goemaat of the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.


title: Connecticut Man Convicted of Corporate Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Connecticut man was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston of fraudulently obtaining over $500,000 from his former employer, New England Sports Network (NESN). Ariel Legassa, 51, was convicted of seven counts of mail fraud and three counts of unlawful monetary transactions. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Dec. 20, 2023. In February 2022, Legassa was arrested and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury. According to evidence presented at trial, from approximately December 2020 to January 2022, Legassa orchestrated a scheme to defraud NESN. In early 2021, Legassa negotiated a contract with a New York company to provide web development services for NESN. At the same time, Legassa created a fake business under the same name as the new vendor. He then used this company to receive fraudulent payments from NESN. During the life of the contract between the New York company and NESN, in addition to approving legitimate invoices from the New York company, Legassa created and approved eleven fake invoices from his fake business. In all, NESN paid Legassa’s fake company $575,500. Legassa then spent the funds on personal expenses, including a private plane, a Tesla, a BMW, a Land Rover and credit card bills. He also transferred the funds into other accounts under his control. “Mr. Legassa thought he could outsmart NESN and the law. Clearly, he was wrong,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Today’s jury verdict emphasizes that fraudsters who abuse the trust of their employers like Mr. Legassa will be found and held accountable, no matter how deceptive and sly their schemes may be.” “Everyone would love more take-home pay, but defrauding your employer clearly isn’t the answer,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Ariel Legassa must have launched this scheme because he thought he’d get away with it. Fortunately, our investigative team —and this jury — didn’t let him and he’ll now be held accountable for his actions.” The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin A. Saltzman and Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.


component: Tax Division

body_text: A U.S. businessman pleaded guilty today to evading his federal income taxes. According to court documents and statements made in court, since 2007, Robert N. Dooner has lived outside the United States, intermittently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ibiza, Spain. Starting in approximately 2007, Dooner worked as a business associate of Individual-1, an American living abroad. Together with others, including Individual-1, Dooner formed a joint venture incorporated in the UAE to provide internet services to U.S. military personnel at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. Individual-1 helped fund the joint venture with proceeds from Company-1 – a business providing commodities to the U.S. Department of Defense in Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and the Middle East. For 2015 through 2019, Dooner evaded taxes owed to the IRS by underreporting to his tax preparer the profits he earned from his ownership interest in the joint venture, as well as other compensation he received through his work for Individual-1. Dooner diverted his distributions to UAE bank accounts in the name of a Dubai-based shell company and then tried to conceal the foreign bank account records when they were specifically requested by U.S. authorities. In total, Dooner concealed approximately $2 million he earned from 2015 through 2019, causing a tax loss to the IRS of more than $744,977. Dooner is the fifth defendant associated with the defense contracting company to plead guilty. Charles Squires pleaded guilty to tax evasion in February 2022, James Robar pleaded guilty to tax evasion in March 2022, Ronald “Ron” Thomas pleaded guilty to tax evasion in April 2022 and Zachary “Zack” Friedman pleaded guilty to tax evasion in August 2022. Dooner faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction are investigating the case. Assistance was provided by the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), which brings together the taxing authorities of Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Tax Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office thank His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom for their extensive assistance in this matter. Senior Litigation Counsel Nanette Davis and Trial Attorneys Sarah Ranney and Ezra Spiro of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Goemaat for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.


title: Pere Marquette Developers Convicted of Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, and Bankruptcy Charges

component: Department of Justice

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – A federal jury today returned guilty verdicts after a day and a half of deliberations in the trial against Pere Marquette Hotel developers Gary E. Matthews, 81, of East Peoria, Illinois, and Monte J. Brannan, 70, of Peoria, Illinois. Matthews and Brannan were jointly charged with five counts of mail fraud and 13 counts of money laundering. Brannan was also charged, individually, with three counts related to bankruptcy fraud committed in his personal bankruptcy case. Matthews was found guilty on all mail fraud charges and 12 of the 13 money laundering counts. Brannan, who earlier in the trial had pleaded guilty to the bankruptcy fraud counts, was convicted on all 18 remaining counts. Sentencing for both Matthews and Brannan is scheduled for March 27, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Peoria, Illinois. Over 11 days of testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that Matthews and Brannan orchestrated a scheme to defraud their investors, the City of Peoria, Core Construction, Indure, and other lenders and creditors. The pair had conspired to disguise the fact that they were taking money from the hotel complex operations by claiming they were using the funds to pay for the mortgage and real estate taxes for the hotel. In the course of that scheme, the two illegally transferred funds to themselves in an effort to disguise the source and ownership of the money they had taken. Both Matthews and Brannan were released with their current bonds in full force and effect. At sentencing, the defendants face statutory penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the mail fraud and money laundering charges, followed by up to five years of supervised release. The bankruptcy charges carry a possibility of up to five years’ imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release. Each of the counts carries the possibility of a $250,000 fine. The case investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The bankruptcy fraud charge was referred for criminal prosecution by the Office of the United States Trustee for Region 10, Nancy J. Gargula. The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, with additional offices in South Bend, Indiana, and Peoria, Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas F. McMeyer, Ronald L. Hanna, and William J. Lynch represented the government at trial. The case was presented to a federal grand jury for indictment by Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss.


title: District Man and Maryland Man Sentenced for a Series of Armed Robberies Targeting Area Businesses

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Quaysa Flumo, 35, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 234 months in prison and Emmanuel Sumo, 29, of Takoma Park, Md., was sentenced to 214 months for a string of armed robberies that struck a series of gas stations, liquor stores, convenience stores, and restaurants in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, all within a four-week period in 2018. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Chief Marcus G. Jones, of the Montgomery County, Md., Police Department, and Chief Antonio DeVaul, of the Takoma Park, Md., Police Department. According to the government’s evidence, Flumo and Sumo were members of a trio - which included Enyinna “Reggie” Onyewu, 31, of Silver Spring, Md. – and were found guilty by a jury in U.S. District Court on March 28, 2022, of federal conspiracy, robbery, and (for Flumo and Sumo) related weapons charges. The government’s evidence showed that Onyewu took part in five of the robberies; Sumo in seven of the robberies; and Flumo in all 10 of the robberies. Throughout January 2018, the defendants, working together, robbed a series of gas stations, liquor stores, convenience stores, and restaurants in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. In each of the robberies, the defendants were armed with a .45 caliber handgun. They wore masks and gloves to avoid being identified. During several robberies, they physically assaulted store employees and put the gun directly to the heads of their victims. The robberies took place at various hours, including some in broad daylight. The victims were left shaken and shocked by the incidents. Fortunately, none of them sustained serious physical injuries. At trial, the government presented testimony from nearly 30 witnesses. The first robbery took place on Jan. 2, 2018, at a gas station in Silver Spring. Other targets were in Takoma Park, Md., Silver Spring, Md., Northwest Washington, and Arlington, Va. On Jan. 10, 2018, two robberies took place within a 45-minute period. The final robbery in the series took place on Jan. 29, 2018, at another gas station in Silver Spring. Onyewu was arrested on Oct. 22, 2020; Sumo on Nov. 23, 2020, and Flumo on Apr. 27, 2021. Onyewu was sentenced Aug. 18, 2023, to 166 months in federal prison and 36 months of supervised release by U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg. Flumo and Sumo were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta who also ordered three years of supervised release for each defendant. In announcing the verdicts, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Chief Jones, and Chief DeVaul commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force, the Montgomery Co. Police Department, the Takoma Park Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Prince George’s Co. Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Lenerz, Paralegal Specialists Candace Battle, Mary Downing, and Kim Hall, Legal Assistant Latoya Wade, Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Litigation Technology Specialist William Henderson. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar Mohanty and Candice Wong of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section (VRTO), who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: Former Norman Car Dealership Owner Chris Mayes to Serve Nearly 11 Years in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Forgery, Identity Theft, and Obstruction of Justice

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: Defendant Has Paid More Than $1,100,000 in Restitution, and Has Also Been Ordered to Forfeit more than $1,000,000 OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, BOBBY CHRIS MAYES , 51 of Norman, was sentenced to serve 130 months in federal prison for wire fraud, conspiracy, issuing forged securities, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction of justice, announced U. S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. Mayes’ co-defendants CHARLES GOOCH, 65 of Moore, and COURTNEY WELLS, 38 of Norman, will be sentenced in the coming weeks. “The extensive deception and manipulation employed by Mr. Mayes in this fraud scheme continued after his conviction in seeking to deceive and manipulate his co-defendants and even the Court,” said U.S. Attorney Troester. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that schemes to defraud will eventually be revealed and severe consequences will be imposed. I commend the outstanding work done by both investigators and prosecutors in this case.” “Mayes and his co-defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to defraud car buyers and lenders out of millions of dollars by misrepresenting the type, source, and amount of borrower’s down payments and vehicle trade-ins. This long-running conspiracy resulted in significant losses to over 20 financial institutions, while hundreds of borrowers were saddled with debt they simply could not afford,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The sentence handed down today should serve as a stark reminder that this level of greed comes with an even bigger price to pay. The FBI recognizes the impact of fraudulent business practices on American consumers, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure predators like Mayes are brought to justice.” Original Charges and Trial On September 16, 2020, Mayes, Gooch, and Wells were indicted on 25 counts for using their positions as co-owners of the Big Red Dealerships (Big Red Sports/Imports, Big Red Kia, Norman Yamaha, Norman Mitsubishi, and Mayes Kia) to engage in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud in which they sought to obtain millions of dollars of loan proceeds. Mayes was the owner of the Big Red Dealerships, Gooch was the compliance officer, and Wells was the financial controller. The government alleged each defendant made materially false statements and omissions to lenders about the type, source, and amount of borrowers’ down payments or vehicle trade-ins, and bribed at least one loan officer. From November 2, 2021, through November 19, 2021, a jury trial was held in Oklahoma City. At trial, the jury heard testimony that the Big Red Dealerships used advertisements to target potential customers with poor credit and that Mayes, Gooch, and Wells then fraudulently induced lenders to approve loans for such customers by documenting that the customers provided cash down payments and/or trade-in vehicles when that was untrue. Twelve different Big Red Dealership customers testified about their experiences buying cars at the Big Red Dealerships, along with several former employees and representatives of several lenders. In some circumstances, the purported cash down payment was simply fictitious, and the Big Red Dealerships referred to those cash down payments as “King Cash” on internal documents. The jury also heard testimony that in late 2014, one lender discovered these fake cash down payments, and Mayes emailed threats to the CEO of that lender in an effort to stop the lender from further investigating the Big Red Dealerships. Evidence at trial also showed that from February 2015 until late 2017, the Big Red Dealerships continued to document fictitious cash down payments for lenders. During that time period, for hundreds of customers, the down payment was based on items that were allegedly sold to Norman Pawn & Gun, a pawn shop owned by Gooch and located in a building owned by Mayes, although it was never open for business and never had any employees. After loan proceeds were received from lenders, Big Red Dealership employees generated checks to the customers for the pawned items, forged the customers’ signatures on the checks, deposited the checks in Big Red Dealership accounts, and later fully reimbursed Norman Pawn & Gun for the purported down payments. The jury also heard that the Big Red Dealerships falsely documented vehicle trade-ins for lenders to approve loans. On hundreds of other occasions, the trade-in vehicle was never provided to the Big Red Dealerships and a separate transaction was documented—unbeknownst to the lender—in which the trade-in vehicle was resold to the customer for a dollar. Finally, the jury heard testimony that at least one lender approved questionable loans—for up to two to three times’ the value of vehicles being purchased—after a Big Red Dealership manager gave cash bribes to a loan officer and the Big Red Dealerships provided fake invoices to justify the inflated prices. On November 19, 2021, the jury convicted all three defendants of conspiring to commit wire fraud, convicted Mayes and Gooch with 12 counts of wire fraud based on false information sent to lenders for 12 specific customers, and convicted Wells of six of those counts of wire fraud. Post-Trial Flight to Mexico by Wells, Obstruction of Justice by Mayes, and New Charges Following the trial and while awaiting sentencing in May of 2022, Wells and her boyfriend, Brandon Landers, fled to Mexico to avoid incarceration. Following a manhunt for the two fugitives they were captured in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico in October of 2022 and were returned to the United States. On February 17, 2023, Mayes was indicted and charged with three counts of tampering with official proceedings. The government alleged Mayes orchestrated and helped to secure the unavailability of Wells in the proceeding, fabricated e-mails and other evidence in an effort to secure a new trial in that prior case, and sent an anonymous e-mail to the Court as part of his effort to obtain a new trial. On June 23, 2023, Mayes pled guilty to two counts of tampering with official proceedings. At the plea hearing, Mayes admitted he had helped to convince co-defendant Wells to flee to Mexico while they were awaiting sentencing and that he provided financial support for her flight. Based on these new allegations, Mayes was ordered to be detained pending sentencing. Landers pled guilty on December 6, 2022, to conspiring to tamper with official proceedings based on his involvement in helping Wells flee to Mexico. He is awaiting sentencing. Sentencing Hearing Today At sentencing hearings today, testimony and evidence were presented regarding Mayes’ efforts to assist Wells’ flight to Mexico, falsified evidence presented to the court, and threats to kill a witness who testified at his trial. Defendants Wells and Gooch cooperated with the government and testified against Mayes and will be sentenced in the coming weeks. At the sentencing hearing today, U. S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Mayes to serve 130 months in federal prison on his fraud-related counts and 65 months in federal prison for his obstruction-related counts, to run concurrently. Mayes had already paid $1,160,825.72 in restitution. Mayes was also ordered to forfeit profits from the scheme in the amount of $1,018,322.17. In announcing the sentence, Judge Friot noted the aggravating factors surrounding the lengthy underlying fraud scheme, but particularly emphasized the schemes to defraud the Court and the Government as part of his obstruction of justice following the trial. Investigation and Prosecution Team This case is the result of an investigation by FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Snyder and Jacqueline Hutzell prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public record for more information.


title: Rashad Trice Trial Date Set for April 16 in Wynter Cole-Smith Case

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a trial date for Rashad Maleek Trice, 26, has been set for April 16, 2024. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker scheduled the trial date following today’s status conference. “My office is ready and fully prepared to make our case against Mr. Trice at a fair trial as we seek a measure of justice for Wynter Cole-Smith and her family,” said U.S. Attorney Totten . Trice has been indicted and arraigned for kidnapping two-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith, resulting in her death and kidnapping a minor. Trice was charged by criminal complaint on July 7, 2023, to secure his immediate detention, and indicted on July 26 to satisfy his constitutional right to federal indictment by a grand jury. On August 7, 2023, he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and remains in custody. Trice is charged with two counts. The first count is kidnapping resulting in death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(1). If convicted, the statutory mandatory minimum sentence is life in prison. The second count is kidnapping of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1201(a)(1) and (g)(1). If convicted, the statutory mandatory minimum sentence is 20 years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. ### Trice Pleads Not Guilty During Arraignment In Wynter Cole-Smith Case Trice was Previously Indicted for Kidnapping Resulting in Death and Kidnapping a Minor Monday, August 7, 2023 Trice Indicted For Kidnapping Resulting In Death And Kidnapping A Minor In Wynter Cole-Smith Case Wednesday, July 26, 2023 U.S. Attorney Totten Announces Federal Charges In The Kidnapping Of 2-Year-Old Wynter Cole-Smith Friday, July 7, 2023


title: United States Attorney’s Office Honors Native American Heritage Month and Participates in Second Annual Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Summit

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane and Yakima, Washington – Each year in November, communities across the United States celebrate National Native American Heritage Month. During this time, the Department of Justice also acknowledges the tremendous contributions of Native American communities to the United States, including those who work hard each day to support DOJ’s mission. In honoring our Tribal nations and heritage, we also remember the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities and obligations to strengthening Tribal sovereignty. Earlier this week, U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref and her First Assistant, Richard Barker, joined Federal, State, and Tribal law enforcement, community leaders, other stakeholders, and victims at the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force’s Second Annual Summit. During the Summit, U.S. Attorney Waldref addressed the group and provided an update on federal efforts to address the MMIWP crisis. “I want to thank the incredible leaders and community stakeholders who support the victims and families of this ongoing crisis,” U.S. Attorney Waldref stated. “As a result of your collective voices, federal, state, and Tribal governments are devoting significant resources to addressing the root causes that have led to increased numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women and people. We can honor Native American Heritage Month by recommitting to address the root causes underlying this crisis: fentanyl, domestic violence, child abuse, illegal possession and use of firearms, illegal narcotics, and human trafficking. Our communities are safer and stronger as we join together to seek justice on behalf of those affected by this tragic crisis.” First Assistant United States Attorney Barker, participated on a panel with representatives from the Washington State Patrol, FBI, Tribal law enforcement, and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Following the conference, First Assistant Barker reiterated the need for prosecutors and law enforcement to build trust with marginalized communities: “Federal, State, and Tribal law enforcement must not only work together to improve public safety in Tribal Nations, we must work together to earn the community’s trust. Although it will take time, we can earn community members’ trust by actively participating in community events, attending listening sessions, engaging with victims, supporting law enforcement, and honoring Tribal culture and tradition.” More information on Native American Heritage Month is available at https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/ . Additional information regarding the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force is available at https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-state-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-and-people-task-force .


title: Department of Justice Awards More Than $1.7 Million  To Support Public Safety in Eastern Washington

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced multiple Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) grant awards, totaling more than $1.7 million for the counties in Eastern Washington. In total, COPS awarded more than $334 million to support state, local, and Tribal public safety and community justice activities. The grants announced today include funding to help law enforcement agencies hire over 1,730 new law enforcement officers across the country while also providing critical funding to support school safety and continue to advance community policing nationwide. The grants awarded in the Eastern District of Washington are as follows: Recipient Grant Title Award Amount Washington State University Supporting Law Enforcement Agencies in Seeking Accreditation $133,178 Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Equipment and Training Award $827,661 Eastern Washington University 2023 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards 2 Officers – $250,000 Soap Lake 2023 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards 1 Officer – $125,000 City of Kennewick Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects $129,173 Republic School District School Violence Prevention Program $244,026 “Local law enforcement is a crucial component of our mission to make and keep the communities of Eastern Washington safe and strong,” said United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref. I am pleased these funds will be used give critical support to the work law enforcement is doing on our streets and schools. These awards will support communities, schools, and universities in both urban and rural areas in our district. I am grateful that funding also is being devoted to improving public safety in our Native American communities and elsewhere.” “Law enforcement officers across the country are showing up every day to protect their communities in the face of unprecedented challenges,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These grants, which support the hiring of more than 1700 new officers and make critical investments in school safety and crisis intervention efforts, will help provide local law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to keep their communities safe, support officers, and build public trust.” Complete lists of all program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here . The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice 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. Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/ .


title: Westwood Man Sentenced to More Than 9 Years in Prison for Long-Running Surety Bond Scam that Caused More Than $5 Million in Losses

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Westwood man was sentenced today to 110 months in federal prison for defrauding victims out of more than $5 million by purporting to sell bonds for large-scale construction and other projects, and for evading the payment of more than $1.2 million in taxes. Tommy Lester Watts, 64, a.k.a. “Michael Nesbeth,” “Michael Kent,” and “Alex Mason,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who also ordered him to pay $8,995,879 in restitution. Watts pleaded guilty on February 16 to one count of transactional money laundering and one count of tax evasion. From September 2016 to September 2019, Watts falsely claimed to be experienced in and able to provide surety bonds and other financial guarantees for large-scale projects. Watts told victims that he would assist them in obtaining financing for their projects via his various companies, including the Sherman Oaks-based Source One Surety LLC. Watts misrepresented that any such bonds or guarantees were underwritten by well-known companies and banks, and that they were backed by assets in the millions or billions of dollars. But Watts and his companies were not licensed to sell such bonds in California. And his claims about his experience, his clients – which purportedly included governments – his underwriting, and his supporting assets were not true. To make his scheme appear legitimate, Watts hijacked the corporate filings of other companies and created fake employees and accounts for underwriters and banks. Watts caused victims to send his companies approximately $5,238,344, the majority of which he spent on personal items such as classic and luxury cars, rent for high-end apartments, and the purchase of luxury retail goods. He also laundered victim payments through accounts held in the names of corporations that were not registered and used fake taxpayer identification numbers – and then used those accounts to spend victim funds as his own. He hid this income from the IRS in tax years 2017 through 2019, in which he failed to file any tax returns. Watts received a total of $4,683,430 in income that he failed to report to the IRS for those three tax years. Watts has agreed to forfeit to the United States nearly $60,000 seized from two bank accounts he controlled, a Mercedes-Benz car and a Subaru SUV. He also has agreed to pay to the IRS a total amount of $4,226,535 in restitution, which includes at least $1,863,035 for his tax liabilities. “It is hard to overstate how devastating this conduct was to [Watts’] victims,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Some lost businesses, some their life savings, others a property that had been in their family for over 200 years. They describe divorce, eviction, and physical and mental health ramifications…an inability to trust; lost reputations and dreams.” The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the California Department of Insurance investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Kristen A. Williams of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Lexington Man of Armed Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky.- A Lexington man was convicted on Thursday, by a federal jury in Lexington, of drug trafficking and firearms offenses. After 3 hours of deliberations, following a 3-day trial, the jury convicted 36-year-old Chase Russell Downey of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to testimony at trial, Downey was selling kilogram quantities of cocaine in Lexington. Downey had a residence in Mexico, that he used as a base of operation in Mexico; he had a residence in Houston, Texas; and he had a residence where he stayed in Lexington. Evidence presented at trial established that on several occasions law enforcement conducted surveillance and encountered Downey. On December 12, 2022, law enforcement observed Downey leaving a residence in Lexington carrying two large plastic bags and going to potential meet locations, where he would distribute cocaine. Subsequently, Downey was arrested and a search warrant was conducted on the local residence, where a large amount of cocaine, other drugs, numerous loaded firearms, and $70,000 in drug trafficking proceeds were seized. Additional investigation determined that Downey made at least fourteen trips to Mexico during the relevant period. Downey has prior felony convictions and was on supervised release for at least one prior federal felony conviction at the time of the commission of these offenses. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Field Office; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; and Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP), jointly announced the jury verdict. The investigation was conducted by FBI, DEA, and the KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. Downey is scheduled for sentencing on February 23, 2024. He faces a minimum of 30 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence. — END —


title: California Man Sentenced to 132 Months for Bringing Over 65,000 Fentanyl Pills to Syracuse for Distribution

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jose Orozco Acosta, age 22, of Bakersfield, California, was sentenced to serve 132 months in federal prison for possessing over 65,000 fentanyl pills with the intent to distribute them. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division Frank A. Tarentino III, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. DEA California Division Bob Beris, and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento made the announcement. In pleading guilty, Acosta admitted that on April 4, 2022, he travelled from Bakersfield, California to a storage unit in Syracuse, NY. Acosta transferred the contents of his storage unit, which included a black plastic tote, to a different storage unit in the city of Syracuse. The black plastic tote that Acosta transported contained over 65,000 fentanyl pills, weighing approximately 7.2 kilograms. The investigation revealed that Acosta was transporting fentanyl and other narcotics from his home in Bakersfield to drug dealers in the Central New York area for further distribution. As part of the investigation, many of the local dealers that Acosta was supplying were arrested in August 2022. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse, New York also ordered that Acosta serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. NYSP Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (NYSP-VGNET) and DEA Resident Offices in Syracuse, New York and Bakersfield, California investigated the case with assistance from the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force, Auburn Police Department, Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshal Service, United States Army National Guard Counterdrug Program, Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office, Cortland City Police Department, Bakersfield Police Department, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and Kern County Probation Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone prosecuted the case.


title: Delaware County Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Murray, age 71, of Sidney, New York, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office; and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Murray admitted that in October 2021, he possessed images and videos of child pornography on two cell phones and possessed images and videos of child pornography within two email accounts he owned and controlled. At the time of these offenses, Murray had a previous conviction in New York related to the possession of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also sentenced Murray to 10 years of supervised release, to follow his term of imprisonment. Murray was also ordered to forfeit two electronic devices that he used to commit his crimes. Murray will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. This case was investigated by HSI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Albany Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Charles E. Williams, age 34, of Albany, pled guilty today to possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement. On November 18, 2021, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force tracked Williams to a hotel to arrest him for a kidnapping. When searching his hotel room, the Marshals found a .357 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver. Williams is prohibited from possessing the firearm as a result of a prior New York State felony conviction for assault in the first degree. Additionally, a jury convicted Williams of kidnapping in the second degree a few months ago, and he pled guilty to assault in the second degree in Rensselaer County last month. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes will sentence Williams on March 4, 2024. The conviction carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-release supervision of up to 3 years. A judge imposes a defendant’s sentence based on the particular statute a defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case with assistance from the North Greenbush Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Medical Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A former medical doctor has been sentenced to four months in federal prison, a six-month term of home confinement, two years supervised release, and a requirement to pay full restitution following an extensive tax-evasion scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, from at least 2000 until 2018, Joseph David Meyer, 62, of Roseau, Minnesota, earned significant taxable income as a licensed medical doctor as well as income and interest from his ownership of rental properties. Meyer repeatedly challenged his tax obligations in court, concealed his taxable income, and even sued his rental tenants for complying with legitimate IRS levies. Meyer’s evasion resulted in a total tax loss of $484,164. Meyer pleaded guilty on June 29, 2022, to one count of tax evasion. Meyer was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Donovan W. Frank. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by IRS – Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Sing prosecuted the case.


title: Las Vegas Real Estate Developer Sentenced To Prison For Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Nevada man was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for evading payment of his federal income taxes. Scott H. Lawrence, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to tax evasion on July 26, 2022. According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2009 through 2019, Lawrence owned and operated Turn Two Inc., a Nevada real estate company. In March 2010, the IRS levied Lawrence’s personal bank account in an attempt to satisfy an outstanding tax debt. After learning of the IRS levy, Lawrence began taking steps to thwart IRS collection efforts by, among other things, cashing large portions of his wife’s paycheck to keep the funds out of a bank account the IRS could levy. Beginning in 2011, Lawrence began depositing his wife’s entire paycheck and other earnings into a corporate bank account not subject to levy, held by Turn Two and used that account to pay most of his family’s personal living expenses. Lawrence then directed his wife to create a new interior design business, D Lawrence Hospitality LLC (“DLH”), and to open a business bank account for DLH. Lawrence funneled much of his and his wife’s personal income through DLH to impede the IRS’s ability to collect the couple’s unpaid taxes. For years, Lawrence concealed the existence and personal use of DLH’s bank account from the IRS. Lawrence also caused his attorney to send a materially misleading letter to the IRS and to pay his taxes using an intentionally overdrawn bank account. In all, as a result of his evasive conduct, Lawrence prevented the IRS from collecting more than $1.9 million in federal income taxes. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Anne R. Traum ordered Lawrence to serve two years of supervised release and to pay approximately $1,905,325 in restitution to the United States. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Patrick Burns and Boris Bourget of the Tax Division prosecuted the case. ###


title: Mexican Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Javier De Leon Marin, 32, of Monterrey, Mexico, was sentenced on November 3, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Barajas to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release. De Leon Marin also agreed to the forfeiture of $169,283 that was seized as part of the investigation. On April 11, 2022, an undercover (UC) Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration contacted a Mexican-based source of supply about purchasing four ounces of meth that could be delivered to the UC in Omaha. Arrangements were made, and later that day Gerson Ortega-Corado arrived and exchanged $1,000 for four ounces of meth. On May 18, 2022, the UC again contacted the Mexican-based source of supply and made arrangements for a one-pound delivery of meth. Later that day, the UC met with De Leon Marin and exchanged $3,700 for 418 grams of pure meth. Following the controlled buy, De Leon Marin was followed around to various locations. One of the locations that De Leon Marin visited was an apartment in the area of 10 th and Bancroft in Omaha. He was also followed to several storage units. On June 16, 2022, the DEA executed search warrants at the 10 th and Bancroft apartment and the storage units. At the 10 th and Bancroft location, 26.3 kilograms of pure meth and $160,000 were seized. At the storage units, agents seized $31,562, $2,303, and $6,980. Oretga-Corado was sentenced on August 15, 2023, to 168 months’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, and the Omaha Police Department.


title: Bennington Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Daniel A. Christianson, 39, formerly of Bennington, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 3, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for distributing child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Christianson to 96 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Christianson will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Christianson was ordered to pay a special assessment totaling $1,100. In 2021, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover investigation regarding the use of peer-to-peer file sharing of child pornography on the internet. During the investigation, investigators identified an IP address associated with Christianson that had shared video files of child pornography using peer-to-peer computer software between June 20 and June 21, 2021. Investigators determined the IP address associated with Christianson had shared child pornography videos on at least two occasions. On October 28, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at Christianson’s Bennington residence, during which he admitted to downloading and viewing child pornography. This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Two Juveniles Charged as Adults for Murdering High School Student During Armed Robbery

body_text: WASHINGTON – Marlan Smith, Jr., 16, and Anthony Monroe, 17, of Washington, D.C., were presented in Superior Court and charged as adults today on the charge of first degree felony murder while armed, stemming from the homicide of 17-year-old A.C., on September 11, 2023, in front of Jersey Mike’s, in the 2300 Block of Washington Place, N.E. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Monroe and Smith were arraigned before Magistrate Judge Eric Glover, today, where they entered pleas of not guilty. The defendants are accused of committing five separate armed robberies beginning at approximately 5:49 a.m., prior to the sixth armed robbery that resulted in A.C.’s death by shooting him in the head. The court heard arguments and found probable cause to believe that the defendants committed first degree felony murder while armed. The court held the defendants without bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 4, 2023, before Judge Robert Okun. An arrest on a complaint is merely a formally charged allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin DeRiso.


title: ECUADORIAN MAN SENTENCED TO 70 MONTHS ON COCAINE POSSESSION CHARGE

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Nestor Vera Escalante of Ecuador was sentenced to 70 months incarceration before Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy on his conviction of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States after pleading guilty on February 28, 2023. According to court documents, on July 12, 2021, while on routine patrol, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk intercepted a low-profile vessel located 125 nautical miles south, southwest of Isla De Molpelo, Colombia. The vessel was in international waters and displayed no signs of nationality. The vessel also exhibited suspicious factors including the low-profile construction, no navigation lights, and operation in a known drug vector. The vessel was later determined to be without nationality, thus subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Upon inspection of the low-profile vessel, Escalante, Jairo Riascos Preciado and Inocencio Espana Castillo, both of Columbia, were found onboard. Also found onboard were 793 kilograms of cocaine inside the hull of the vessel. Preciado and Castillo pleaded guilty on February 13, 2023, and Preciado was sentenced on July 7, 2023, to 100 months incarceration. Castillo awaits sentencing. This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations and Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by United States Attorney Delia L. Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Natasha Baker. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: ST. CROIX MAN SENTENCED TO 102 MONTHS INCARCERATION ON COCAINE POSSESSION CONVICTION

body_text: St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Kareme Holst, 46, a St. Croix native and resident of Colorado, was sentenced by District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis to 102 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release and a fine of $1,000.00, on his conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Holst pleaded guilty on August 25, 2022. According to court documents, on October 18, 2021, Holst was a ticketed passenger on an American Airlines flight from St. Croix to Miami, FL. During his preboarding inspection at the Henry Rohlsen Airport, Customs and Border Patrol officers discovered approximately three kilograms of cocaine hidden in jars of coconut packed in Holst’s luggage. Officers also found bags of cocaine concealed in the pockets of clothing pack in Holst’s suitcase. When interviewed, Holst admitted that the luggage belonged to him and that he packed each bag. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Fort Towson Resident Sentenced For Voluntary Manslaughter In Indian Country

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shonda Lynette Johnson, age 52, of Fort Towson, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 135 months in prison for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office. On September 29, 2022, a federal jury convicted Johnson at trial of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. At trial, the United States presented evidence that on November 17, 2019, Johnson confronted the victim, struck him in the head with a blunt instrument, fatally stabbed him in the abdomen, and waited over 45 minutes to call for medical assistance. The crime occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Johnson will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.


title: California Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Crimes

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nestor Vanegas Rosales, age 36, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to 168 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 168 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. The sentences will run concurrently. The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration. On June 22, 2022, Rosales pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. According to investigators, on May 6, 2022, Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 40 discovered Rosales in possession of nearly 4 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and over 4 kilograms of cocaine. The Honorable John C. Coughenour, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington, sitting by assignment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Rosales will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.


title: California Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eric Lamont Williams, age 52, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration. On September 26, 2022, Eric Lamont Williams pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. According to investigators, on April 5, 2022, Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 40. During a search of the vehicle, a backpack with four vacuum-sealed bundles containing over 4 kilograms of pure methamphetamine was found concealed under the hood. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Williams will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.


title: Stilwell Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearms Crime

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brandon Lee Workman, age 37, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for one count of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction and 72 months in prison for one count of possessing ammunition after a felony conviction. These sentences will run concurrently. The charges arose from investigations by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On August 10, 2022, Workman pleaded guilty to the offenses. According to investigators, law enforcement officers responding to an emergency call on May 9, 2022, discovered Workman in possession of a revolver and .38 Special ammunition despite a prior conviction for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. The Honorable Rodney W. Sippel, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Workman will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Parsons and Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Stilwell Resident Pleads Guilty To Arson In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Arron Lee Gonzalis, age 27, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Arson in Indian Country. The Indictment alleged that Gonzalis willfully and maliciously set fire to and burned a building. The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Stilwell Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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. Gonzalis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Texas Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearms Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shawn Lee Karr, age 37, of Howe, Texas, was sentenced for possession of stolen firearms. Karr was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison for one count of Possession of Stolen Firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C.§ 922(j). The charges arose from investigations by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the General Services Administration – Office of Inspector General, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On August 17, 2022, Karr pleaded guilty to Possession of Stolen Firearms. According to investigators, between 2018 and 2019, Karr pawned his department-issued firearms while employed as a police officer for Oklahoma police departments in Bennington, Bokchito, and Boswell. The firearms were federally issued weapons on loan from the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency’s Law Enforcement Support Office and from the General Services Administration’s Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program. Karr pawned the federally owned firearms at a Calera, Oklahoma, pawn shop. “The DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our partners are committed to safeguarding sensitive property from the Defense Logistics Agency’s Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO), which works with qualifying law enforcement agencies to facilitate the transfer of excess DoD property under strict program guidelines,” said Gregory P. Shilling, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DCIS’ Southwest Field Office. “Today’s sentencing highlights the very real consequences for those holding a position of trust and choose to compromise the LESO program for personal gain.” “GSA’s Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program provides local government, non-profit, and educational organizations access to property the federal government no longer needs,” said GSA OIG Special Agent in Charge Jamie Willemin of the Southwest and Rocky Mountain Investigations Division. “GSA OIG and our investigative partners will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who exploit such programs for personal financial gain.” “Protecting federal property from waste, fraud, and abuse is a priority of the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The defendant had no right to pawn the firearms he was issued as part of his employment as a law enforcement officer, and he is now facing the consequences for his actions.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Karr will self-report on November 30, 2023, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Kara Traster represented the United States.


title: Kingston Resident Sentenced For Failure To Register As A Sex Offender

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darrell Edward Lynch, Jr., age 53, of Kingston, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender. The charges arose from investigations by the United States Marshals Service and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office. On November 7, 2022, Lynch pleaded guilty to one count of failing to register as a sex offender. According to U.S. Marshals, between April 18 and May 3, 2022, Lynch, a convicted sex offender, changed his residence within the Eastern District of Oklahoma and knowingly failed to update his registration in violation of the law. Lynch, who received a felony conviction in 1998 for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child in the State of Texas, is required to register or update his registration as a sex offender every ninety days. The Honorable Rodney W. Sippel, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Lynch will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark represented the United States.


title: Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced For Assault With A Dangerous Weapon In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Chad Thompson, age 32, of Amber, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. The charges arose from investigations by the Quinton Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On October 17, 2022, Thompson pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim with a dangerous weapon with the intent to cause the victim bodily harm. According to investigators, Thompson assaulted and stabbed the victim during an altercation on January 14, 2019, causing significant bodily injury. The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Thompson will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.


title: Cherokee County Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Billy Eugene Shepard, Jr., age 31, of Hulbert, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea of one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment. The Indictment alleged that on or about July 12, 2023, Shepard knowingly possessed a firearm after having been convicted of a felony, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Judge D. Edward Snow, 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. Shepard was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending a sentencing hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.


title: Seminole Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Derrick Dewayne Louie-Jackson, age 44, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition. The charge arose from investigations by the Seminole Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On August 3, 2022, a federal jury convicted Louie-Jackson at trial of one count of the offense Felon in Possession of Ammunition. On or about April 28, 2022, upon execution of an arrest warrant, Louie-Jackson was found in possession of ammunition. Louie-Jackson, a felon, was previously convicted of an offense punishable by more than a year of incarceration. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Louie-Jackson will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. The United States was represented at trial by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Cheung and Jarrod Leaman.


title: Muskogee Resident Sentenced For Kidnapping And Robbery

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ashton Marie Clark, age 31, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Kidnapping in Indian Country and 120 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country. The sentences will be served concurrently. The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muskogee Police Department. On September 14, 2022, Clark pleaded guilty to one count of Kidnapping in Indian Country and one count of Robbery in Indian Country. According to investigators, on September 11, 2021, Clark and her co-defendant kidnapped and assaulted one victim, and robbed another victim, stealing a car and personal items at gunpoint. The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Clark will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Cornell and Casey Richmond represented the United States.


title: PUERTO RICAN MAN SENTENCED TO 70 MONTHS INCARCERATION ON COCAINE POSSESSION CONVICTION

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Carlos Velez-Lopez, 25, of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 70 months incarceration by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy after pleading guilty on February 21, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, on September 24, 2020, while conducting surveillance, Drug Enforcement Administration agents observed Emanuel Campbell Camacho approach a vehicle and remove a large, heavily weighted duffle bag from the vehicle. Camacho entered a waiting vehicle with the duffle bag and the vehicle took Camacho to the Windward Passage Hotel. After arriving at Windward Passage, Camacho carried the large duffel bag to the second floor of the hotel where Velez-Lopez was waiting. Agents approached both men and recovered 30 kilograms of cocaine from the duffle bag. Cell phones records later confirmed that Velez-Lopez and Camacho arranged the cocaine delivery. On June 21, 2023, Judge Molloy sentenced Camacho to 87 months incarceration for his role in the drug conspiracy. This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne. The investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Federal Jury Convicts West Palm Beach Felon of  Distributing Dangerous Drugs and Illegally Possessing a Machinegun

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Nov. 1, a federal jury in West Palm Beach convicted Willie Boone, 24, on multiple drug trafficking and firearms charges related to his participation in a conspiracy to sell a synthetic opioid, commonly sold as fentanyl, cocaine, and Eutylone (a synthetic cathinone with effects akin to Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), and his possession of a machinegun in furtherance of those crimes. According to court documents, on or about March 3, 2022, the West Palm Beach Police Department executed a search warrant at a West Palm Beach residence. Boone was detained on scene. During the search, officers recovered multiple controlled substances, including N-Pyrrolidino Etonitazene, Eutylone, and cocaine. Other recovered evidence included two of Boone’s cellphones and two firearms, one of which was a Glock Model 17 pistol with a machinegun conversion device. That conversion device, commonly known as a “Glock Switch” rendered the pistol fully automatic. Boone, who previously had been convicted of three felony drug-trafficking offenses was prohibited from possessing a firearm, including the unregistered machinegun. Forensic evidence recovered from the cellular telephones and Boone’s DNA on the Glock Model 17 pistol confirmed his possession of the firearm and possession in the charged drug conspiracy. The jury convicted Boone of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and failing to register a machinegun. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 24, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 45 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, and West Palm Beach Police Department Chief Frank Adderley announced the conviction. ATF and the West Palm Beach Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon O’Shea Darsch and Alexandra Chase are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Charest-Turken for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. 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. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 22-CR-80175. ###


title: Justice Department Announces New Nationwide Public Safety Commitments

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department announced today several new commitments as part of its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime . Instituted by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in May 2021, the strategy focuses on harnessing federal resources, intelligence, and expertise as a force-multiplier with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta highlighted the more than $334 million in critical grant funding to law enforcement agencies and stakeholders awarded today by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The COPS grants announced today include funding to help law enforcement agencies hire over 1,730 new law enforcement officers across the country while also providing critical funding to support school safety and continue to advance community policing nationwide. They also named the five new cities to join the more than 50 jurisdictions currently part of the Office of Justice Program (OJP)’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) National Public Safety Partnership (PSP), which has a proven track record of helping partner sites reduce crime, improve homicide clearance rates, and enhance the quality of life for community members. The 2024 PSP sites are: Knoxville, Tennessee; Minneapolis; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Antonio; and Vallejo, California. Lastly, the Deputy Attorney General and Associate Attorney General announced that this Dec. 11-13, in Indianapolis, the Justice Department will bring together up to 1,500 local and federal partners from across the country, including representatives from the more than 50 PSP jurisdictions and from Project Safe Neighborhoods for a Violent Crime Reduction Summit hosted by OJP BJA. “Law enforcement officers across the country are showing up every day to protect their communities in the face of unprecedented challenges,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These grants, which support the hiring of more than 1700 new officers and make critical investments in school safety and crisis intervention efforts, will help provide local law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to keep their communities safe, support officers, and build public trust.” “The latest data indicates progress on declining crime rates, but the Justice Department recognizes there is far more work to do so that all Americans can be free from violence,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Local communities know best what works, which is why the Justice Department has recently invested over $5.6 billion in community-driven safety initiatives. The grants and partnerships announced today build on past investments and further our pledge to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement and community partners to harness our resources, intelligence, and expertise to reduce violent crime.” “I can’t emphasize enough how critical these grants are to urban, suburban, and rural communities across the country to address urgent public safety needs and increase police-community trust and collaboration,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “These grants provide vital investments for communities to hire highly qualified and diverse police officers, improve school safety, and strengthen police and community partnerships.” Since its creation in 1994, the COPS Office has advanced community policing nationwide and provided grants to over 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers. Funding highlights from the grants announced today include: Nearly $217 million to 394 agencies through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) for the hiring of 1,730 entry-level career law enforcement officers in an effort to create and preserve jobs and increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. More than $73.6 million to 206 school districts, state, and local governments, and other public agencies through the COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) to improve security at schools and on school grounds. Approximately $43.6 million to support crisis intervention teams, de-escalation training, accreditation efforts, and innovative community policing strategies through the COPS Community Policing Development (CPD) program. Complete lists of all program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here . “For almost 30 years, the COPS Office has worked to reduce crime and increase trust between law enforcement and the community through the many different grant programs that we offer,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. “The funding we are announcing today will go a long way toward advancing this very important work.” These grant awards build on the $4.4 billion that the Justice Department’s OJP has already awarded in fiscal year 2023 to support state, local and tribal public safety and community justice activities. More than $1 billion of those funds are specifically designed to reduce crime and violence, and support law enforcement. An additional $109 million supports school violence prevention and research. “Success in reducing violent crime comes from our ability to work together, partnering with law enforcement and communities, building broad coalitions that recognize and address how to promote public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. “The Office of Justice Programs is proud to offer robust support to jurisdictions to address violent crime in critical ways.” OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law.


title: Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Offense

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cory Donnell Bryant, age 36, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The Indictment alleged that on September 7, 2022, Bryant was in possession of a Mossberg, 12-gauge shotgun, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knew of such conviction. During the plea hearing, Bryant admitted to possessing the shotgun despite knowing he was prohibited from possessing firearms as a convicted felon. The charges arose from an investigation by the by the Cherokee County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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. Bryant will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark and Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.


title: Sequoyah County Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bobby Laymone Sanders, age 63, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The Indictment alleged that on April 13, 2023, Sanders was in possession of an Iberia Firearms Inc. (Hi-Point), Model JCP, .40 S&W caliber, semi-automatic pistol and two rounds of ammunition, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, despite knowing he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition as a convicted felon. At the time of the offense, Sanders had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knew of such conviction. The charge arose from an investigation by the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Judge Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Sanders will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Konawa Resident Pleads Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kristy Renee Zapata-Gutierrez, age 35, of Konawa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. The Indictment alleged that, on March 19, 2023, Zapata-Gutierrez caused the death of the victim while driving under the influence and in an unsafe manner. The victim was a passenger in Zapata-Gutierrez’s car. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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. Zapata-Gutierrez will remain on release pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Three Time Child Pornography Possessor Pleads Guilty to Fourth Child Pornography Possession

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — David Elliott Paulsen, 61, pled guilty to his fourth federal offense of Possession of Child Pornography. At the plea hearing, Paulsen admitted that within four months of his release from the Bureau of Prisons for a 2014 conviction for possession of child pornography, he possessed a contraband phone and child pornography. After his release from federal prison in March 2023, Paulsen was required to complete the remainder of his sentence at a residential reentry facility in Columbia. Paulsen admitted that on July 13, 2023, employees of the residential reentry center discovered a contraband phone in his room. Law enforcement searched the phone and discovered over 1,200 images containing child sex abuse material (CSAM) and at least one video. These CSAM images included adults sexually abusing children that were tied with ropes or duct tape. Paulsen admitted that he kept these images in password protected cellphone applications and was downloading these images from the Dark Web. Paulsen has three prior federal convictions from 1993, 2004, and 2014 for possession of child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in federal prison. Paulsen, who was previously ordered detained, will remain detained until sentencing before United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson at the Matthew J. Perry Federal Courthouse in Columbia. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Federal Jury Convicts Dual Resident Doctor of Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced the conviction of Dr. Melissa Rose Barrett, age 49, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Clive, Iowa, with tax evasion. Barrett was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 8, 2022. After a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson, the jury unanimously convicted Barrett of one count of tax evasion. Barrett, a physician, owned and operated an urgent care clinic known as Stat Care Clinics, L.L.C. d/b/a Central Stat Care. As the evidence at trial demonstrated, for tax years 2007 through 2017, Barrett owed significant taxes totaling approximately $1.6 million, excluding interest and penalties. The IRS notified Dr. Barrett that she owed taxes multiple times and through various means. Dr. Barrett undertook various steps to evade the payment of her outstanding tax liability, including preparing and filing with the IRS a false form underreporting income and inaccurately detailing her assets. Barrett also accumulated and concealed cash in a safe instead of depositing it in the bank. Finally, Barrett purchased millions of dollars of real estate and personal property in the names of nominees, including, but not limited to, a personal residence, a boat, an airplane, and thousands of acres of farmland and hunting land. The property purchased in the names of nominees totaled over $6.7 million. As a result of the conviction, Dr. Barrett now faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Unit and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward H. Warner and Elizabeth White, and Trial Attorney Wilson Stamm of the Department of Justice Tax Division.


title: Chatham County man sentenced to federal prison for forcibly taking mailbox keys from postal carrier

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: BRUNSWICK, GA: A Chatham County man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to robbing mailbox keys from a U.S. Postal Service employee. Andre Rasheed Barnes , 24, of Garden City, Ga., was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to Robbery of Money, Mail, or Other Property of the United States, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Barnes to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “The safety and security of our mail carriers is vitally important for the well-being of these employees and the smooth operation of our mail system,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “It’s fortunate the mail carrier in this case was unhurt, and thanks to the work of our law enforcement partners Barnes and his co-defendant are being held accountable.” As described in court documents and testimony, a carrier was delivering mail to community mailboxes at Chatham City Apartments in Garden City on July 16, 2022, when Barnes approached her and asked her to open a mailbox for him. She asked for his identification, and he then asked how to get a new key and left after she provided the information. Two days later, Barnes approached again with the same questions, and then fought with the carrier as he forcibly took her keys and fled. Garden City police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service later identified Barnes and an accomplice, Keyuhn Washington , 24, of Garden City, and found the stolen keys in Washington’s vehicle. After his arrest Washington was held in the Chatham County Detention Center and sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to Theft of Post Office Keys. He is now serving three years of supervised release. “A large part of the Postal Inspection Service mission is the protection and safety of our postal employees,” said Tommy D. Coke, US Postal Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “This is a great example of Postal Inspectors working with our law enforcement partners to pursue criminals involved in violent acts in our local communities and bringing them to justice.” The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Garden City Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo.


title: Convicted Sabine Parish Drug Dealer Receives 29 Year Federal Prison Sentence

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Scott William Wood , 41, of Noble, Louisiana , has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to a total of 29 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on drug and firearm charges. Wood was sentenced to 22 years for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; 5 years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and an additional 2 years for revocation of his supervised probation, with each sentence to run consecutive, for a total of 29 years. According to information presented in court, a deputy with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Wood was the front seat passenger on December 26, 2022. On the front floorboard of the passenger side of the vehicle, the deputy found a small, zippered bag. The bag was located underneath where Wood had been seated. Inside the zippered bag, the deputy found a loaded Glock, Model 43X, 9mm pistol and a clear bag containing approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine. The firearm and the methamphetamine belonged to Wood, and he admitted to intending to distribute the methamphetamine to other individuals. Wood pleaded guilty to the offenses of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking at the guilty plea hearing on May 26, 2023. At the time of his arrest, Wood was on supervised release in the Western District of Louisiana. He was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on November 21, 2013 and was previously sentenced to 120 months in prison for that offense. This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth D. Reeg. The investigation and conviction of Wood 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. # # #


title: St. Louis County Felon Caught with Guns Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Wednesday sentenced a felon caught with a rifle and a pistol to 15 years in prison. Arnell Jackson, 46, of Norwood Court, Missouri, pleaded guilty in July to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that on Feb. 21, 2022, police responded to reports of a man using an AR-style rifle to shoot at moving company employees working at a neighbor’s house. After a lengthy standoff, Jackson was taken into custody, and officers found an Adams Arms 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle and a Taurus .40-caliber pistol inside the front door of his home. Jackson has prior felony convictions, including for second-degree murder, and is barred from possessing firearms. The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Goeke prosecuted the case.


title: Second Man Sentenced to 10+ Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of St. Louis 7-Eleven

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Wednesday sentenced a second man to 10 ½ years in prison for the armed robbery of a St. Louis, Missouri 7-Eleven in 2020, U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming announced Thursday. Harvey Cameron, 33, of Ferguson, was one of two men involved in the robbery of the 7-Eleven at 5350 Chippewa Street on June 21, 2020. One of the men entered the store and pointed a Zastava AK-47-style rifle at an employee, demanding cash from the register. The pair were caught shortly after the robbery, with the cash and the gun. Cameron pleaded guilty in July to robbery, possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The other man, Monte Kent, 35, pleaded guilty to the robbery and the firearm brandishing charges and was sentenced to 10 ½ years in prison in March of 2022. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI.


title: Justice Department to Announce Civil Rights Investigations Related to South Carolina

body_text: WASHINGTON – Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina will hold a press conference to announce civil rights investigations. WHEN : Today, Nov. 2, at 12:30 p.m. ET WHO : Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs WHERE : Media must RSVP to receive the Zoom link. OPEN PRESS Media planning to attend must RSVP to Julia Hartnett at Julia.Hartnett@usdoj.gov by 12:00 p.m. ET. Any inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Aryele Bradford at Aryele.Bradford@usdoj.gov or Julia Hartnett at Julia.Hartnett@usdoj.gov ###