Lawrence Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Firearms Offenses

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced yesterday for the unlawful possession of firearms stemming from his illegal dealing of rifles and handguns.

John H. Morales, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf, to 70 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On April 7, 2021, Morales pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

“Our Commonwealth has strict requirements and thorough vetting processes to legally purchase, sell and carry firearms for a reason – they are dangerous and deadly weapons. Keeping illegal firearms off the street and out of the hands of prohibited individuals is at the core of combating the continued rise in violent crime we have seen across our nation,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Despite being a convicted felon strictly prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, Mr. Morales illegally delt 14 firearms – including a high-powered semi-automatic rifle with two 30 round magazines – within just four short months. His conduct is alarming and each of those firearms and the ammunition have been taken off the street. Each of those bullets is a potential gun violence victim. We are committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of Massachusetts residents and removing individuals like Mr. Morales from our communities is a step in the right direction.”

“The FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force is working with our law enforcement partners to rid our communities of illegal firearms and whether it’s through takedowns of violent gun-toting gangs or, one by one, arresting felons like Mr. Morales, a criminal in possession of 14 firearms and ammunition – including an SKS rifle – we will continue to do all we can to make our neighborhoods safer. There is little doubt these guns would have ended up in the hands of gang members had we not obtained them, resulting in serious danger to the public,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division.

In early 2019, federal law enforcement opened an investigation into Morales’ illegal firearm dealing. The investigation revealed that between February 2019 and May 2019, Morales sold a cooperating witness 14 firearms – including pistols, concealable weapons and a high-powered SKS rifle accompanied by two 30 round magazines – which were seized during the investigation. Morales was arrested in November 2019 and has been in custody since that date.

Due to prior felony convictions from 2010 and 2016, Morales is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement. The FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Middle District Of Florida Prosecutes Over 300 Defendants For Federal Firearms And Violent Crime Offenses As Part Of Project Safe Neighborhoods Strategy

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

Tampa – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced today the fourth quarter results of the Middle District of Florida’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy. Over the last fiscal year, ending September 30, 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted more than 325 defendants and seized approximately 685 firearms, 9 silencers, and 1,813 autosears. During the last quarter in particular, prosecutors in the Middle District of Florida have prosecuted 120 defendants for federal firearms and violent crime offenses, removing more than 192 firearms from our streets in the process. (See chart below for case details) The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also engaged in community outreach efforts aimed at violent crime prevention throughout the year. Those efforts in the fourth quarter involved more than 800 people.

“Our office is committed to reducing violent crime throughout the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners and community stakeholders as part of our joint effort to make our communities safer.”

PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. This evidence-based program has proven to be effective at reducing violent crime by engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders working together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in communities and developing comprehensive solutions that reduce crime. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses on prevention and intervention efforts through community engagement and problem-solving partnerships, strategic enforcement of the most violent offenders, and locally based reentry programs to reduce recidivism.

Q4 PSN case highlights:

United States v. Harris et al (Fort Myers)

Marvin Harris, Jr., and Latrel Jackson have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire and murder for hire as a result of murder that was committed in Fort Myers in November 2019. According to court records, Harris, Jr. was the leader of a drug trafficking organization operating in Lee County. As a result of the conspiracy between Harris, Jr., and Jackson, “K.U.” was murdered on November 2, 2019, in Fort Myers. Harris, Jr. caused Jackson to travel from Illinois to commit the murder in exchange for a promise and agreement to pay money. The trial is currently scheduled for December 2022.

United States v. Christopher Dozier (Jacksonville)

In September 2022, Christopher Dozier was sentenced to 18 years and 8 months in federal prison for two violent armed robberies of Jacksonville businesses. In the first robbery, Dozier physically struck an employee before binding the employee’s hands with wire. During the second robbery, Dozier disarmed a security guard, stealing his firearm and almost $2,000 from the business. Dozer fled to Massachusetts where he was arrested and eventually returned to Jacksonville. Dozier’s girlfriend acted as his driver in both robberies. She was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for her role in the robberies.

United States v. Tyree Townsel (Ocala)

On August 29, 2022, Benjamin Tyree Townsel (22, Ocala) was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for possessing of firearms as a convicted felon and for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. According to court records, between August 2020 and February 2021, officers from the Ocala Police Department discovered Townsel near firearms during three separate traffic stops. In each instance, Townsel had been linked to other criminal activity, including a shooting and a high-speed chase with law enforcement. An FBI DNA comparison conclusively showed Townsel’s DNA on all the recovered firearms, one of which also had an obliterated serial number. Townsel, a member of the “Bloods” street gang, had four prior state felony convictions, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

United States v. Raul Reyes Vazquez (Orlando)

In July 2022, Raul Reyes Vazquez was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison for committing bank robberies while on federal supervised release related to a bank robbery he had committed in New York in 2008. According to court documents, in July 2008, Reyes Vazquez robbed a Chase Bank in Manhattan and was later convicted and sentenced for that offense in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He also committed a series of bank robberies in 2006 in Hialeah and Miami for which he was sentenced in 2019. On February 16, 2022, Reyes Vazquez robbed a Trustco Bank branch in Orlando. Six days later, Reyes Vazquez robbed a Wells Fargo bank branch in Orlando. At sentencing, Reyes-Vazquez was determined to be a career offender under federal sentencing rules.

United States vs. Ma’at Malik Darius Lee (Tampa)

In August 2022, a federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment charging Ma’at Lee with carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, two counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of attempted wire fraud, and possessing a stolen firearm. The indictment alleges that from July 9 to October 27, 2021, Lee robbed three individuals at gunpoint and carjacked a fourth. When a deputy from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office located Lee in the stolen vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop, Lee responded by firing at least eight rounds and fleeing the scene. If convicted, Lee faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The trial is scheduled for January 2023.

An indictment or criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

These cases are being prosecuted by the Assistant United States Attorneys in all five divisions throughout the Middle District of Florida. For additional information on Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit our website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/project-safe-neighborhoods-0.

Project Safe Neighborhoods Update (July 1, 2022 – September 30, 2022)
Charged Cases
Defendant(s) (Age)	Charges *Minimum/Maximum Terms of Imprisonment*	Firearms Seized
Fort Myers Division
4^th Quarter
Marvin Harris, Jr. (24) Latrel Jackson (25)	Conspiracy to commit murder for hire Maximum Prison Term: Life Murder for hire Maximum Prison Term: Life	0
James Blanks (26)	Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Jontavious Griffin (33)	Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon Maximum Prison Term: 15 years	1
Doumy Joseph (26)	Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: life	2
Giovanni Francois (23)	Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	1
These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSAs Simon Eth, Mike Leeman, Trent Reichling, and Mark Morgan
Jacksonville Division
4^th Quarter
Ronald Bernard Thomas, Jr. (45)	Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	2
Paul Bryan McCorkle (54)	Felon in possession of an explosive Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	0
Cory Lee Kelly (34)	Possession of a machine gun Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 15 years	1
Derrick Irving Gordon (47)	Material false statements related to purchase of a firearm Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	0
Sule Pedro (46)	Distribution of methamphetamine Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: 40 years	0
These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs Laura Taylor, Michael Coolican, Tysen Duva, and David Mesrobian
Ocala Division
4^th Quarter
Michael Latrelle Simpson (21)	Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Ralph Fontil, Jr. (24)	Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Causing a Federal firearms licensee to maintain false information Maximum Prison Term: 5 years	3
Alexander Timothy Rosa (30)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Justin Heath Griffin (34)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Timothy James Roberts (28)	Possession of an unregistered firearm/destructive device Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 15 years	1
Lewis Tinson, Jr. (29)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	4
Brandon Jamal Alex Grant (22)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 15 years	2
These PSN cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSAs William Hamilton, Sarah Swartzberg, Hannah Nowalk, and Robert Bodnar, Jr.
Orlando Division
4^th Quarter
Curtis Tyrone Johnson (34)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	1
Daniel Steven King (28)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	9
Ramondo Zavious Williams (41)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Anthony Quantarius Brooks (21)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Bobby H. Bridges (48)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Jonathan J. Pilgrim (28)	Possession with intent to distribute control substance Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Possession of firearm by previously convicted Felon Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Possession of Machine gun Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Use or Carry firearm during drug trafficking offense Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	1
These PSN cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Betty Gonzalez, John M. Gardella, Shannon R. Laurie, Courtney D. Richardson-Jones, and Terry B. Livanos
Tampa Division
4^th Quarter
Marques Howard (31)	Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Hobbs Act Robbery Maximum Prison Term:10 years Discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term:10 years	1
Robert Frascella (55)	Bank Robbery Maximum Prison Term: 20 years	0
Ma’at Darius Lee (21)	Carjacking Maximum Prison Term: 15 years Brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Attempted wire fraud Maximum Prison term: 20 years Aggravated Identity Theft Maximum Prison term: 2 years Possession of a stolen firearm Maximum Prison term: 10 years	1
Johnny Flores (44)	Interference with commerce by robbery Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	0
Donald Robert Smith (27)	Interference with Commerce by robbery Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Brandishing of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Discharging of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Felon in Possession of a Firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Dempsey Gilmore (31)	Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: 40 years Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term:10 years	0
Dyonnie Alvarez (24) Christopher Alvarez (18) Enrique Marquez (26)	Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Interference with Commerce by Robbery Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years Maximum Prison Term:10 years	0
James Junior Williams (44)	Bank Robbery Maximum Prison Term: 20 years	0
Thaddeus Howard (29)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Reggie Harris, Jr. (30)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Cedrick Durham (21)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Adam Saed (31)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Patraic Setzer (28)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Stephen Sherlock (58)	Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: 40 years Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	1
Isaac Bautista Gonzalez (20)	Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	1
Eddie Winman Thomas, III (32)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Jonathan Anton Williams (38)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	1
Kenneth Lorenzo Jackson (47)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	1
Meccos Donta Allen (38)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: Life Mandatory Minimum Prison Term: 15 years	1
These PSN cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Samantha Newman, Samantha Beckman, Maria Guzman, Diego Novaes, David P. Sullivan, David Chee, and Michael Kenneth

Adjudicated Cases
Defendant(s) (Age)	Charges *Minimum/Maximum Terms of Imprisonment*	Firearms Seized
Fort Myers Division
4^th Quarter
Ronald Perkins (44)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Distribution of a controlled substance Maximum Prison Term: 20 years	1
Otis Marchman IV (28)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Brown Dimas III (27)	Making a false statement in records required to be kept by a firearms dealer Maximum Prison Term: 5 years	4
These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSAs Simon Eth and Mark Morgan
Jacksonville Division
4^th Quarter
Dontae Edwards (30)	Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms Maximum Prison Term: 5 years	0
Raymond Samuel Reeves (22)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	2
Stephan Leon Marshall (22)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Brandon Bayne (25)	Conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	1
Michael Lajaune Smith (44)	Distribution of a controlled substance Maximum Prison Term: 20 years	0
Hinduwah Sama (18)	Possession of a stolen firearm Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
James Robert Lewis (54)	Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Darnell Rice, Jr. (28)	Possession and transfer of a combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Making a materially false statement related to the purchase of a firearm Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	0
These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs Frank Talbot, John Cannizzaro, Laura Taylor, Julie Hackenberry, Chip Corsmeier, and Michael Coolican
Ocala Division
	4^th Quarter
Aaron Haa (42)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	3
Demuntray Cox (39)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Rey Daniel Facio-Garcia (29)	Illegal alien in possession of a firearm Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Keo Ibua Mike (29)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	2
James Clay Bexley (34)	Possession of an unregistered firearm/destructive device Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Possession of a firearm in violation of a domestic violence injunction Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	18
Troy Nix (29)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Michael Tyrone Young (32)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
These PSN cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSAs Robert Bodnar, Jr, Tyrie K. Boyer, and Will S. Hamilton
Orlando Division
4^th Quarter
Mandel Lamont Stewart (23)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	2
Rossonno Borders, Jr. (25)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Isaac Millan Sepulveda (21)	Conspiracy to distribute Fentanyl Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: 40 years	7
Charles Palmatier (74)	Unlawful distribution and dealing of firearms Maximum Prison Term: 5 years	18
These PSN cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Ranganath Manthripragada, Terry B. Livanos, and Betty Gonzalez
Tampa Division
4^th Quarter
Deoin Rashaud Brown (26)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 15 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	1
Uriah Waggerby (24) Sylvanis Brice (30) Johan Holder (25)	Conspiracy to interfere with Commerce by robbery Maximum Prison Term: 20 years	0
Raequan Nelson (24)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
William Shumaker (38)	Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Troy Dollman (45)	Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 10 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 5 years Maximum Prison Term: Life	2
Delon Adams (50)	Interference with commerce by robbery Maximum Prison Term: 20 years Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence Minimum Mandatory Prison Term: 7 years Maximum Prison Term: Life Possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon Maximum Prison Term: 10 years Mailing a threatening communication Maximum Prison Term: 2 years	0
Antwan Brown (22)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
Damien Boatwright (23)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Maximum Prison Term: 10 years	1
These PSN cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Risha Asokan, Mike Sinacore, Michael Kenneth, David Chee, Samantha Beckman, Diego Novaes, and Chris Murray

Sentenced Cases
Defendant(s) (Age)	Charges *Sentence Imposed*	Firearms Seized
Fort Myers Division
4^th Quarter
Romeo Lenell Battle (25)	Felon in possession of firearm Sentence imposed: 57 months	1
Eric Maurice Brown (32)	Possession with intent to distribute 40 or more Grams of Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Cocaine Base Sentence imposed: 164 months Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence imposed: 120 months	2
Serdarryel Dave English, Jr. (39)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence imposed: 72 months	1
Robert Reese Lyons (24)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence imposed: 46 months	1
Herman Fleming (29)	Felon in possession of firearm Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Sentence imposed: 120 months	1
Nickolas Rock (56)	Possession of an unregistered destructive device Sentence imposed: 6 months	1
These PSN cases from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSAs Simon Eth, Michael Leeman, and Trent Reichling
Jacksonville Division
4th Quarter
Vershaun Lamar Puzie (34)	Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking Sentence Imposed: 10 years Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking Sentence Imposed: 10 years	2
Jeromy Washington (25)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: 70 months	1
Edrick Jackson (28)	Distribution of a controlled substance Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence imposed: 5 years	2
Brett Amante (39)	Bank Robbery Sentence imposed: 30 months Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence Sentence imposed: 84 months	3
Christopher Dozier (41)	Interference with commerce by robbery Sentence imposed: 140 months Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence Sentence imposed: 84 months	2
Johnny Davis (46)	Making a materially false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms Sentence imposed: 3 months	0
These PSN cases from the Jacksonville Division were handled by AUSAs Laura Taylor, John Cannizzaro, Michael Coolican, David Mesrobian, and Cyrus Zomorodian
Ocala Division
4^th Quarter
D’Andra Miller (21)	Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Sentence imposed: 32 months	1
Benjamin Townsel(22)	Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number Sentence imposed: 144 months	3
Jonathan Jermaine Thomas (33)	Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Sentence imposed: 460 months	1
Nathanael Santiago (28)	Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon Sentenced imposed: 84	1
Miguel Vargas-Narez (44)	Possession of a firearm by an illegal alien Sentenced imposed: 180 months	1
Roddrick Anthony (33)	Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Sentence imposed: 460 months	1
Timothy Ivory (44)	Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon Sentenced imposed: 90 months	2
Tevaughn Johnson (28)	Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon Forcibly assaulting a federal officer with injury Sentence imposed: 100 months	1
Samuel Alexander Glover (30)	Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Sentence imposed: 420 months	2
Dean Dumont (23)	Possession of an unregistered NFA weapon Sentenced imposed: 24 months	1
Ronrico Lionel Farmer (33)	Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon Sentenced imposed: 64 months	1
Marty Eugene Days (33)	Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon Sentenced imposed: 27 months	1
These PSN cases from the Ocala Division were handled by AUSAs Michael P. Felicetta, Robert Bodnar, Jr., William S. Hamilton, Hannah Nowalk and Tyrie K. Boyer.
Orlando Division
4^th Quarter
Raul Reyes-Vazquez (50)	Bank Robbery Sentence Imposed: 240 months Bank Robbery with forced accompaniment Sentence Imposed: 300 months	0
Yunis Isaac Mejia (28)	Possession of an unregistered firearm Sentence Imposed: 21 months	1
Jarvis Jackson (31)	Hobbs Act Robbery Sentence Imposed: 6 months Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence Sentence Imposed: 60 months Aggravated identity theft Sentence Imposed: 24 months	1
Zachary Nichols (28)	Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine Sentence Imposed: 84 months Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Sentence Imposed: 60 months	2
Christopher DaSilva (25)	Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon Sentenced imposed: 57 months	1
These PSN cases from the Orlando Division were handled by Dana Hill, Shawn Napier, Chauncey Bratt, Jennifer M. Harrington, and Ranganath Manthripragada.
Tampa Division
4^th Quarter
Devin Kelly (27)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentenced imposed: 46 months	1
Malachi Deloch (23)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentenced imposed: 4 years 7 months	4
Elijah Howard (23)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: 96 months	1
Wilbur B. Simpson IV (23)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: Time served	15
Hector Kirkland (40)	Interference with commerce by robbery Sentence imposed: 57 months Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence Sentence imposed: 84 months	0
Devontae Hunter (24)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: 57 months	1
Xavier Jones (27)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: 120 months	1
Chris Boone (25)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: 120 months	3
Derek Owens (34)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: 51 months Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Sentence imposed: 60 months	2
Timothy Mills II (38)	Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance Sentence imposed: 151 months Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: 120 months	0
Cecil Hickox (46)	Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: 120 months	0
Javeon Jacobs (22)	Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence Sentence Imposed: 21 years	1
Reginald Wester, Jr. (23)	Felon in possession of ammunition Sentence Imposed: 15 months	1
Ryland Hicks (41)	Felon in possession of firearm/ammunition Sentence Imposed: 84 months	1
These PSN cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Daniel Marcet, Samantha Beckman, Jim Preston, David Chee, Craig Gestring, Charlie Connally, and Mike Sinacore

Outreach Activities
4^th Quarter
Date	Event	Number of Attendees	Division
July 7, 2022	Boys & Girls Club at Marshall Middle School	84	Tampa
July 7, 2022	Boys & Girls Club at Shields Middle School	66	Tampa
July 7, 2022	Association of Florida Colleges’ Campus Safety Symposium	10	Orlando
July 16, 2022	Orange Sheriff’s Office Back-to-School Resource Fair	600	Orlando
August 2, 2022	Fort Myers Success Academy	31	Fort Myers
September 26, 2022	Westbrooke Elementary Rising Stars Mentoring Group	27	Orlando
Total Number of Events for 4^th Quarter: 6		Total Number of Attendees for 4^th Quarter: 818

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Clearfield Mail Carrier Received Meth and Marijuana for Drug Trafficking Organization

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violation of federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced today.

Amy Bortot, age 52, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of marijuana before United States District Judge

Christy Criswell Wiegand. Bortot was one of 47 defendants charged in six related indictments as part of the Return to Sender investigation.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Bortot used her position as a United States mail carrier to receive parcels on behalf of Derek Hillebrand, the leader of the drug trafficking organization, that were shipped from California to the Western District of Pennsylvania. In total, Bortot received parcels containing approximately 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 80 kilograms of marijuana.

Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Bortot on Feb. 28, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a sentence of not less than ten years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The court ordered that the defendant remain on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Lusty and Michael R. Ball are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department.

This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Cambria County Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Blandburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violation of federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced today.

Kenneth Gillam, age 52, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine before United States District Judge

Christy Criswell Wiegand. Gillam was one of 47 defendants charged in six related indictments as part of the Return to Sender investigation.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Gillam was a methamphetamine distributor who obtained between 350 grams and 500 grams of methamphetamine from Derek Hillebrand as part of a large-scale methamphetamine distribution conspiracy and redistributed it to methamphetamine users. Gillam also obtained a quantity of cocaine from Hillebrand that he unsuccessfully attempted to sell.

Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Gillam on March 6, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a sentence of not less than five years to a maximum of forty years in prison, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The court ordered that the defendant remain detained pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Lusty and Michael R. Ball are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Man Sentenced To Prison For Threatening Emergency Dispatch

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

Caller placed approximately 143 calls, tied up sheriff’s dispatch line for three hours

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten today announced that Jonathan Joshua Munafo, 35, most recently of Winter Park, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff to 24 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for threatening emergency dispatch personnel and tying up an emergency phone line for three hours.

“Violence, threats of violence, or intimidation is never the answer,” said U.S. Attorney Mark A. Totten. “My office will not tolerate this behavior, especially when it interferes with the life-saving duties of first responders and jeopardizes the public’s safety. Our public servants on the front lines should never be subjected to this type of harassment for simply doing their jobs.”

On January 5, 2021, Munafo called the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office demanding to speak to a sheriff’s deputy or sergeant. Munafo identified himself only as “Yankee Patriot” and aggressively berated the dispatcher. When her supervisor took over the conversation, Munafo said, “Put a … cop on the on the phone now … or it’s going to go way worse for your family.” He added, “I’m telling you, this isn’t a … threat, it’s a promise. … I’m gonna cut your throat. I’m gonna make you eat your … nose. I’m gonna hurt you bad for this.”

“Today, Jonathon Munafo is being held accountable for threats made to a Calhoun County dispatcher and her family,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Public servants – particularly those who work in already stressful positions – should not be threatened or intimidated for doing their jobs. This type of behavior will not be tolerated by the FBI, and we will investigate those who threaten our community with violence.”

Munafo placed approximately 143 calls to the dispatch center, even though the supervisor pleaded with him to clear the line for emergency calls. Munafo said the dispatcher was risking lives by letting him tie up the line and that after the “Insurrection Act” he was coming to her house first. Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and FBI investigators determined that Munafo placed the call from a truck stop in North Carolina. The next day (January 6, 2021), Munafo allegedly participated in the assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Munafo has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. for multiple offenses, including assaulting a U.S. Capitol Police officer.

# # #

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Georgia Man Sentenced for Cyberstalking and Extorting Women for Sexually Explicit Interactions and Photographs

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

BOSTON – A Georgia man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for engaging in a cyberstalking and extortion campaign in which he used anonymous social media accounts to harass and victimize women, including a Boston-area woman whom he cyberstalked and extorted for videos, photographs and communications of a sexual nature.

Gary E. Leach, 25, of Athens, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In December 2021, Leach pleaded guilty to two counts of cyberstalking and one count of extortion through interstate threats. Leach was arrested and charged on April 23, 2021 and has been on home detention since he was released from custody on May 18, 2021.

“Justice was served today. Mr. Leach is a coward who hid behind anonymous online accounts to harass, exploit, and terrorize women for his own sick gratification. His disturbing and calculated conduct caused immeasurable trauma on multiple victims – one of whom was kept in a persistent state of fear for over a year,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Cyberstalking is a serious offense that has profound consequences for victims – many of whom are women. My office and our law enforcement partners will not stand idly by. Everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in their community – whether that community is in-person or online. The cloak of internet anonymity is not impenetrable. Bad actors who cyberstalk and victimize innocent individuals will be identified, prosecuted and brought to justice.”

“The victims in this case did not let fear silence them. They courageously came forward and worked with the FBI to help bring Gary Leach’s cruel cyberstalking campaign –one that inflicted intense trauma—to an end. We’d like to encourage other victims of online threats to do the same,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Sadly, the FBI is seeing a surge in sextortion cases, with people of all ages being targeted. It’s a serious crime, and we will continue to work hard to unmask predators like Leach to ensure they are held accountable for their cowardly acts.”

From October 2019 until his arrest in April 2021, Leach, then a graduate student at the University of Georgia, targeted a Boston-area woman in an online cyberstalking and extortion campaign. Leach used anonymous Instagram accounts to obtain private video calls and photographs of a sexual nature from the victim – falsely promising payment in exchange – and surreptitiously recorded the victim during these calls. Leach subsequently resurfaced under a different anonymous account and threatened the victim that he would send the recording to the victim’s family if she did not comply with his demands. These demands included participating in sexual and degrading acts over video calls with Leach and sending photographs similar in nature upon his request. In exchange for her unwilling compliance, Leach promised the victim that he would delete the previous recording. However, during the subsequent interactions, Leach surreptitiously gained additional recordings and photographs of the victim which he used to repeatedly extort the victim for more sexual and degrading interactions under new Instagram aliases.

Leach also cyberstalked other women on social media, including a woman residing in Canada. Leach recorded a video call of a sexual nature with this victim and sent the recording to her roommate. He repeatedly contacted the victim and used the recording to attempt to solicit additional interactions with her. Throughout 2019 and 2020, Leach attempted to solicit video performances of a sexual nature from at least a dozen Instagram users. Additionally, Leach initiated unsolicited video calls with at least 20 other Instagram users for the purpose of exposing himself masturbating and sent unsolicited photographs and/or videos of himself masturbating to users who did not answer the video calls.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank Robbery, Hobbs Act Robbery

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that, on October 25, 2022, DEVIN CHANEY (“CHANEY”), age 32, agreed to plead guilty to one count of Armed Bank Robbery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2113(a) and (d) (Count 9); and one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a) (Count 3). In pleading guilty to the Armed Bank Robbery, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of twenty-five (25) years’ imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to five (5) years; a fine of up to $250,000.00; and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. In pleading guilty to the Hobbs Act Robbery, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years’ imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years; a fine of up to $250,000.00; and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. In exchange for pleading guilty, the government has agreed to dismiss the remaining counts in the superseding indictment.

As part of his plea, CHANEY admitted that on Christmas Eve 2021, he entered the Capital One Bank located on Carondelet St. in New Orleans. He presented a demand note to one teller and received some money but was disappointed in the amount. CHANEY then approached a second teller, pointed a firearm at the teller, and received additional money before leaving the bank. In total, CHANEY robbed the Capital One of approximately $2,506.00. Additionally, on December 12, 2021, CHANEY entered the Subway sandwich shop located on North Broad Street, New Orleans, pointed a firearm at the cashier, and demanded the money in the register. The cashier handed over approximately $600.00 to CHANEY.

Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for February 21, 2023, before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crimes Task Force and New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon Long and Charles Strauss.

* * *

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

LaPorte Man Convicted by Jury of Drug and Gun Offenses

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

SOUTH BEND – Donta Bridges, 38 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was found guilty following a three-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Bridges was found guilty of two counts of distributing heroin; possessing with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine; an attempted distribution of heroin; and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to documents in this case, the charges stemmed from events occurring in September and November of 2019.

Bridges sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 6, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the LaPorte County Drug Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly L. Schultz and Jerome W. McKeever.

###

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Eleven people arrested in Washington and California in connection with cartel connected drug trafficking schemes

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

Seattle – Three significant drug trafficking groups responsible for trafficking more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine and hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills are facing federal charges tonight, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Two indictments charging a total of eleven defendants were unsealed late yesterday following law enforcement activity in two states. Six additional defendants were indicted and arrested in September. Despite the arrests tied to a wire-tap investigation, the traffickers named in the most recent indictments continued their trafficking activities.

“These individuals were bringing large loads of meth, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from Mexico across the border and up I-5 to the Pacific Northwest,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “Even when an RV loaded with drugs was pulled off the highway and seized by law enforcement, they weren’t deterred. The wiretap revealed various organizations continued to recruit drivers and vehicles to transport their drugs throughout our District.”

“Dangerous people are filling our streets with guns and drugs – and people are dying,” said Seattle Police Chief Adrian Z. Diaz. “The entire SPD, including its officers and investigators, have made getting firearms and illegal narcotics off our streets a top priority. We know this months-long investigation, arrests, and seizures will result in lives saved. With more than 350,000 fentanyl pills taken by SPD’s narcotics unit alone this year and shootings in Seattle up 29% in 2022, we thank our local and federal partners for their help in prioritizing this life-saving work.”

Even before yesterday’s search of 14 locations in Washington and California, the drug, gun, and cash totals seized by law enforcement were significant: 1,016 pounds of meth; 9 kilos of fentanyl powder and 330,000 fentanyl pills; 25 kilos of cocaine; and 15.5 kilos of heroin. Law enforcement seized 43 guns and more than $1 million in cash.

“This operation would be considered a success purely by the volume of illegal drugs taken off the streets” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “When we consider a drug trafficking organization was dismantled and the number of illegal firearms recovered through our federal and local partnerships, the positive impact to the Puget Sound region will be immediately felt.”

“The amount of dangerous narcotics seized during this investigation is staggering,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division. “Just looking at the fentanyl seized, since four out of 10 fake pills contain a lethal dose, that was enough to kill 132,000 people. This investigation shows our state, local and federal partnerships are needed so we can keep our communities safe, healthy, and free from these dangerous narcotics.”

Those named in the indictments unsealed yesterday include:

Jose Paleo, 29, of La Mirada, California
Octavio Guzman, 24, of Huntington Park, California
Glauco Guardado Rodriguez, 25, of Seattle
Araceli Salas, 30, of Maywood, California
Maria Rangel Aguilar, 44, of Huntington Park, California
Miguel Thomas, 33, of Tukwila, Washington
Tad Fulton, 48, of Seattle
Ryan Holmquist, 34, of Issaquah, Washington
Timothy Hursh, 38, of SeaTac, Washington
Ryan Terry, 44, of Duval, Washington
Abel Cruz, 32, of Des Moines, Washington

Six defendants were arrested earlier this year on a September 21, 2022, indictment:

Agustin Gutierrez Valencia, 32, of Kent, Washington
Daniel Vazquez Arroyo, 32, of Kent, Washington
Rosalio Reynoso Arellano, 51, of Los Angeles
Ernesto Casillas, 46, of Los Angeles
Benigno Hernandez aka Ivan Santos Arellano, 32, of Kent, Washington
Jesus Toledo Pardo, 56, of SeaTac, Washington

Two additional defendants were arrested on criminal complaints yesterday:

Luis Valenzuela-Haro, 32, of Seattle

Michael Kinzel, 37, of Renton, Washington

As for totals from the searches yesterday, law enforcement seized more than two kilos of fentanyl, 4.5 kilos of heroin, ten pounds of methamphetamine and 67 firearms. Also taken by law enforcement: high-capacity rifle magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition, two sets of body armor, one ballistic shield.

The defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. Because of the amount of drugs involved, many face a mandatory minimum ten years in prison. One defendant is charged with carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, which leads to an enhanced sentence. One group of defendants is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The charges contained in the indictment and criminal complaints are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The investigations were led by the FBI field offices in Seattle and Los Angeles, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Seattle Police Department, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), and Homeland Security Investigations, both the LA and Seattle offices.

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.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti, Lyndsie Schmalz, and Marci Ellsworth.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Ricky Lee Clark Jr., 29, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 15, 2021, Clark was carrying a loaded Davis Industries, model P380, .380-caliber pistol in his waistband when law enforcement officers encountered him on a residential street in St. Albans.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Clark was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Kanawha County Circuit Court on June 24, 2020.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the assistance provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nowles Heinrich prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-59.

###

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Mystic Restaurant Owner Sentenced for Federal Tax Offense

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that YI DI LIN, also known as “Johnny Lin,” 49, of Mystic, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to three years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of more than $92,000 and a $5,500 fine, for a federal a federal tax offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court today, Lin owns and operates Peking Tokyo, a restaurant in Mystic. In operating the restaurant, Lin regularly paid several employees wholly or partially in cash. In mid-2019, Lin began using a payroll processing company to issue payroll checks for certain employees, make appropriate tax withholdings, and file Forms 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns) with the Internal Revenue Service. Lin subsequently failed to inform the payroll company about the existence of the employees he only paid in cash and the amount of cash he paid to employees. As a result, the payroll company prepared and filed false Forms 941 for four quarters in 2019 and 2020, and appropriate payroll taxes were not remitted to the IRS. The resulting loss to the IRS was $92,093.

On July 28, 2022, Lin pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return.

Lin has paid $92,093 in restitution.

This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Laraia.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Independence Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen Firearm

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man who was inebriated when he fired a pistol from his apartment patio pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing a stolen firearm.

Reggie L. Teagues, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to one count of possessing a stolen firearm.

By pleading guilty today, Teagues admitted that he possessed a Kel-Tec 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 12, 2020. Independence police officers were called to his residence at approximately 4:05 p.m. that day in response to a neighbor’s 911 report of shots fired. The neighbor heard three gunshots, which he originally thought were fireworks. When he went out to his patio to investigate, he saw Teagues holding a handgun.

When officers arrived, Teagues was slumped over on the living room floor in his apartment, near the sliding glass door leading to the patio. Teagues told officers he had consumed approximately one pint of tequila since noon that day, as well as using PCP. Teagues had an injury to his elbow, which he apparently received when he fell into the bedroom window while on the patio. Officers found two spent shell casings on the patio and another spent shell casing on the floor beside Teagues.

Teagues’s girlfriend told officers the firearm belonged to her and that she had it secured in her bedroom closet on a shelf where Teagues had taken it without permission. She had rushed home after getting a frantic phone call from her daughter. She saw the firearm lying on the kitchen table, put it in her purse, and was attempting to get Teagues into the bedroom when officers arrived.

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the government and Teagues agree to a sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Gibson, who is a cross-designated prosecutor from the Missouri Attorney General’s office as part of the Safer Streets Initiative to combat violent crime. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Keene Woman Sentenced to 60 Months for Drug Trafficking

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

CONCORD – Jennifer Bosworth, 31, of Keene, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 1, 2021, law enforcement officers conducting surveillance of Ms. Bosworth observed her travel by car from her residence in Keene, New Hampshire, to Lawrence, Massachusetts, picking up an associate along the way. Once in Lawrence, she stopped at an ATM and made multiple cash withdrawals. She then drove to an area in Lawrence known for its drug activity. Law enforcement observed Ms. Bosworth interact with an individual who walked up to Ms. Bosworth’s vehicle but did not get inside. Ms. Bosworth then drove back to Keene. Ms. Bosworth was on probation at the time and had violated its terms by traveling out of state, so law enforcement conducted a stop of her car. After removing Ms. Bosworth from her car, law enforcement observed a baggie containing roughly 15 grams of crack cocaine. A later search of Ms. Bosworth’s car resulted in the seizure of over 85 additional grams of crack cocaine, over 80 grams of fentanyl, and roughly 10 grams of powder cocaine, along with $1,220 in an Arizona Tea can “hide” compartment, and ATM receipts showing numerous large cash withdrawals totaling thousands of dollars.

“Drug dealers like the defendant who traffic fentanyl, crack cocaine and other dangerous drugs across our state borders for distribution will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Through the efforts of Homeland Security and local law enforcement working with our office, the defendant will no longer be able to sell these lethal drugs that are poisoning residents of Keene and other New Hampshire communities.”

This matter was investigated by the Keene Police Department with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande.

###

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Barton Residence Searched and Woman Arrested on Federal Drug Charges

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Vermont resident Erika Desormeaux, 36, was arrested and held in federal custody following the search of her residence on Maple Hill Road in Barton, Vermont this morning. Desormeaux is charged in a criminal complaint alleging she conspired with two other individuals, Nathaniel Jamal “JJ” Jones and Jermaine R. “Bear” Douchette, to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including cocaine and fentanyl, between August 28, 2022 and today. Jones and Douchette—both formerly of Springfield, Massachusetts—were not located during the search of the Barton residence, and warrants remain active for their arrest in this case. Desormeaux is scheduled to make her initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in the Burlington federal courthouse tomorrow.

According to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, Desormeaux distributed controlled substances from her Barton residence and allowed other individuals to do the same—including Jones and Douchette, whom she regularly hosted at the residence. Investigators arranged the purchase of cocaine and fentanyl from the defendants on multiple occasions between August and October 2022, and most of those transactions occurred at Desormeaux’s residence. As alleged in the affidavit, witnesses described the conspirators’ possession and acquisition of firearms during the investigation, and Desormeaux herself purchased a firearm in June 2022 that she traded for fentanyl.

The charges in the criminal complaint against Desormeaux, Jones, and Douchette are accusations only, and they are each presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in further proceedings. If convicted of the crime of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, each defendant would face a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Northern Vermont Drug Task Force (NVDTF) and thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for planning and executing this morning’s search. NVDTF and ATF also collaborated with and received support from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, the Vermont State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, the Newport Police Department (NPD), and Homeland Security Investigations.

“This case involves not only the distribution of deadly substances but also the acquisition and transfer of firearms to the drug distributors,” said U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest. “Our community is too familiar with the drug-fueled violence that has made its way into our cities and into smaller towns throughout Vermont. We will continue to investigate and charge the individuals who host drug dealers in their homes and straw purchase firearms for them.”

Orleans Sheriff Jennifer Harlow commented on the property and violent crime resulting from drug trafficking in Orleans County. “The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department is committed to working with our state and federal partners to combat drug and firearms trafficking,” she said. “Drug addiction and the often-violent drug dealers taking advantage of our community have a perilous impact on all of us. It is important for us to collaborate to fight dangerous drugs and to keep firearms out of the hands of those who would do harm with them.”

“We know that violence and drug trafficking are frequently associated with each other,” said Paul Massock, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division. “By working with our local, state, and federal partners in operations like the one today, ATF is one step closer toward reversing the devastating trends of overdoses and drug-related violence threatening Vermont. ATF will continue to work diligently alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that our communities are safe from drug and firearm trafficking, and the violent crime that often goes along with it.”

The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Lasher. Natasha Sen, Esq. has been appointed to represent Desormeaux for her initial appearance. Counsel will be selected by or appointed for Jones and Douchette upon their arrests and initial appearances.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

22-Year-Old Man Charged for Assaulting a Customs and Border Protection Helicopter Pilot

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

TUCSON, Ariz. –On October 13, 2022, United States Border Patrol (USBP) agents arrested Hugo Alexander Garcia-Sales, 22, of Guatemala, for Assault on a Federal Officer With a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon and Improper Entry by an Alien.

The complaint alleges that on October 13, 2022, USBP agents responded to a remote area near Henrick’s Well after receiving reports of two suspected undocumented noncitizens. When agents arrived on the scene, the individuals ran, and a USBP helicopter was called in to assist in the search. While the pilot hovered above the ground, Garcia-Sales threw five softball-sized rocks at the helicopter. Although Garcia-Sales failed to hit the helicopter, one rock came within several feet of striking the aircraft, creating a severe risk of injury or death to the victim pilot. USBP agents arrested Garcia-Sales and confirmed he was a non-U.S. citizen without legal permission to enter or remain in the United States. The other individual evaded apprehension.

Assault on a Federal Officer carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Improper Entry by an Alien carries a maximum penalty of six months in federal prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

A complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER: MJ-22-07776-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-191_Garcia-Sales

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging Local Physician and LPN with Illegally Obtaining and Distributing Controlled Substances

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

SHREVEPORT, La. – Dr. Jeffrey L. Evans, Jr., 65, of Mansfield, Louisiana, and Debra E. Craig, 66, of Converse, Louisiana, were each indicted by a federal grand jury in Shreveport today for illegally obtaining and distributing controlled substances, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown.

Evans was a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of Louisiana with an office in Mansfield, and Craig was an LPN who worked in the medical clinic and was assigned to work with Evans. The indictment alleges that beginning on or about January 2, 2014 and continuing until on or about March 9, 2022, Evans and Craig conspired together and with other persons to obtain hydrocodone and Adderall, both Schedule II controlled substances, by fraud.

It is alleged in the indictment that Evans would write prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances to an unnamed person identified as “Individual 1” and to his co-defendant and LPN, Craig. The controlled substances prescribed included hydrocodone-acetaminophen tablets, hydrocodone-homatropine syrup, and Adderrall. According to the indictment, Individual 1 would fill the prescriptions at a Mansfield, Louisiana area pharmacy and then provide the Adderrall to Evans, who would split the controlled substance containing hydrocodone with Individual 1.

The indictment further alleges that Craig would fill the prescriptions at a Mansfield, Louisiana area pharmacy using the name “Debbie Craig.” Evans would provide cash to Craig to pay the pharmacy for the Schedule II controlled substances and after filling the prescriptions, Craig would in turn provide them to Evans.

It is alleged in nine counts in the indictment that Evans obtained controlled substances by fraud from December 2017 through August 2018. In addition, Evans and Craig are both charged with five counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraud between September 2020 and March 2022. Finally, the indictment alleges that Evans distributed controlled substances through prescriptions that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose between February 2018 and August 2018.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, Evans faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted, Craig faces a sentence of up to 4 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the United States Attorney.

# # #

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years on Gun Charge

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

Jackson, TN – Tommarion Latrez Williams, 28, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for
being a felon-in-possession of a firearm. Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney, announced the
sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, on February 11, 2020, at approximately 10:45 p.m.,
officers with the Bolivar Police Department were dispatched to a disturbing the peace call at E.
Margin St. in Bolivar. After responding to the scene, one of the officers knocked on the front door
while another officer walked to the back of the residence. The officer that went to the rear of the
home heard people talking inside the residence and they appeared to be arguing.

That officer then stepped off the porch and began walking toward the north side of the residence to
speak with his fellow officers about what he had observed, when he heard someone open the back
door. The officer pointed his Taser in that direction and observed a man, later identified as the
defendant, Tommarion Latrez Williams, walk through the back door onto the porch with a gun aimed at
him. The officer determined that it was too late to draw his firearm, so he deployed his Taser at
Williams, and Williams fired his gun directly at the officer. Fortunately, Williams did not hit the
officer with his fired round.

Officers were soon able to subdue Williams and placed him in custody. Williams’ firearm was located
next to a tree in the backyard. The gun, a Taurus Model PT-111 Millenium Pro, 9mm pistol, was
reported stolen during an automobile burglary in Bolivar on August 16, 2016.

A check of Williams’ criminal history revealed that he is a convicted felon. On May 8, 2013,
Williams was previously convicted of aggravated burglary in Madison County, Tennessee, and he was
convicted of the same offense in Hardeman County, Tennessee, on May 24, 2017. As a result of his
prior felony convictions, Williams is prohibited from
possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.

An ATF agent conducted an analysis of Williams’ firearm and determined that it was
manufactured outside the state of Tennessee.

On April 7, 2022, Williams pled guilty to being a convicted felon-in-possession of a firearm in
violation of federal law.

On October 19, 2022, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Williams to 120 months’
imprisonment — the highest sentence allowed by law for this offense — to be followed by three
years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Bolivar Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

###

Contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at 901-544-4231 or [email protected]. Follow @ WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Jury Convicts Mounds Man of Shooting a Former Girlfriend in 2021

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

A federal jury convicted a Mounds man Wednesday in federal court for shooting his girlfriend when she tried to end their relationship in 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Jeffrey Sutton, 54, was found guilty of carrying, using, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and assault with dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country.

“More than 4 million American women have reported being threatened with a firearm in homes with domestic violence. Access to firearms by a domestic abuser makes it five times more likely that an abuser will kill his partner,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Thankfully, the victim in this case survived Jeffrey Sutton’s attack and testified against him at trial. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Briden and Kristin Harrington’s dedication to protecting domestic violence victims is to be commended. Together, with our law enforcement partners, they ensured Mr. Sutton’s conviction this week in federal court.”

On December 2, 2021, the defendant, Jeffrey Sutton returned to his Mounds home and found that his girlfriend, the victim, had moved her belongings out onto the front lawn. She had decided to move out of the house after multiple arguments occurred between the two.

Sutton and the victim argued outside their residence. Then Sutton drew a 9mm handgun and fired at least eight times toward the victim. One of the shots stuck the victim in the chest near her armpit. She retreated into the house, and Sutton chased her, threatening to kill her and “all her people in Bixby.”

Sutton continued to threaten to shoot the victim while in the house and refused to call 911.

The victim then fled outside to her neighbor’s house. Sutton again chased her and shouted toward the neighbors, “I’m not trying to shoot you; I’m just trying to shoot her.” The neighbors allowed the victim inside, hid her in a closet and called 911.

A deputy from the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department was the first to respond to the scene and found Sutton in the front lawn. Sutton was still carrying the firearm, which was empty at that point. He called the victim an expletive and stated that she “was trying to kick me out of the house.” Sutton was taken into custody.

Law enforcement applied pressure to the victim’s wound at the crime scene and described the victim as “in shock.” She was then transported to the hospital, where it was determined that her chest injury had an entry wound and then a graze pattern, but the bullet was no longer inside her. She was treated and later released from the hospital.

An investigator from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was called to the scene and identified eight shell casings outside near Sutton’s truck. He further found multiple bullet holes and defects in the front of the house, in the victim’s belongings on the front lawn, and inside the house.

A trajectory analysis showed that several shots were fired from the direction of the truck that struck the residence door where the victim was retreating to.

In closing arguments, the defense argued that the victim was not credible and that Sutton was only trying to protect himself and deescalate the situation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Briden reminded the jury that Sutton was the owner of a Bixby gun store and trained in handling a firearm, and that the only one trapped and scared during the shooting incident was the victim. Sutton, he argued, picked out a firearm from his vehicle that was fully loaded with a 17-round magazine then closed the distance between himself and the victim when he chased her and fired at her again and again. He then reminded the jury that the victim’s testimony, witness testimony, and the trajectory analysis at the crime scene all pointed to the same thing— that Sutton was guilty on all counts.

The FBI, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven J. Briden and Kristin F. Harrington are prosecuting the case.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men report having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Further, about 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men have experienced sexual violence by an intimate partner. Data from U.S. crime reports suggest that over half of female homicide victims in the United States are killed by a current or former male intimate partner.

To learn about domestic violence resources or seek help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233; https://www.thehotline.org/ In a domestic violence emergency, dial 911.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Jury Convicts Portland Repeat Offender on Federal Drug, Gun, and Money Laundering Charges

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal jury in Portland found a local man with several prior felony convictions guilty today on multiple drug, gun, and money laundering charges.

Dontae Lamont Hunt, 41, a Portland resident, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute fentanyl analogue, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl analogue, and two counts each of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and money laundering.

In September 2005, Hunt was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison and eight years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. In October 2016, Hunt was released from prison early after receiving a presidential sentence commutation.

According to court documents and trial testimony, in December 2017, Hunt was shot multiple times outside an apartment building in Eugene, Oregon. A surveillance video of the shooting showed Hunt walking in a nearby parking lot while talking on a cellphone and carrying a satchel. Immediately after the shooting, Hunt’s girlfriend came to his aid, retrieved the satchel, and placed it in a vehicle used to drop Hunt off at a Eugene hospital.

After departing the hospital, the vehicle was stopped by Eugene Police Department officers for a traffic violation and searched. Officers recovered a bloodstained satchel containing two loaded firearms, both of which were determined to have Hunt’s DNA on them. Back at the shooting scene, officers found a large amount of blood and an iPhone near where Hunt was shot.

On the phone, which was linked to Hunt, investigators found evidence of drug trafficking, including text messages and photos of what appeared to be counterfeit Oxycodone pills. Further investigation revealed that Hunt distributed counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing carfentanil, a powerful fentanyl analogue, in and around Portland and that his drug trafficking was connected to a fatal drug overdose in June 2018.

In September 2018, investigators searched three properties linked to Hunt, including his residence in Northeast Portland. At his residence, Hunt refused commands to surrender and remained alone upstairs for approximately 15 minutes. After he was taken into custody, Portland Police Bureau officers found blue pills adjacent to an upstairs toilet, consistent with and indicative of him disposing of evidence. Agents also located several dozen additional blue pills concealed in a jar of baby ointment, three firearms, and a gun box labeled with the make, model, and serial number of one of the firearms found in the bloodstained satchel in Eugene. Lab reports later confirmed the pills seized contained fentanyl analogue. Additional cellphones seized from Hunt’s residence also contained evidence of his drug trafficking activities. Agents also recovered more than $40,00 in cash and seized multiple vehicles.

Hunt will be sentenced on February 10, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut.

While awaiting trial, Hunt was housed at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Sheridan, Oregon. During this time, a federal corrections officer used his position to introduce contraband—including narcotics, designer sneakers, and a cell phone—into the prison for the benefit of Hunt and other inmates. The now-former corrections officer pleaded guilty in May 2022 for his role in the bribery and contraband smuggling scheme.

This case was investigated jointly by the Portland Police Bureau, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and FBI with assistance from U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Eugene Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Peter Sax, Gary Sussman, and Suzanne Miles, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon. Forfeiture litigation was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Jarrett.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

U.S. Attorney’s Office to Oversee Complaints Related to November 2022 General Election

by DOJ Press October 26, 2022

By: DOJ Press

Assistant U. S. Attorney Seth Askins (619) 546-6692

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 26, 2022

SAN DIEGO – Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Askins will lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election.

AUSA Askins has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of California, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of Election
Day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).

U.S. Attorney Grossman stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Askins will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (619) 546-6692.”

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (858) 320-1800.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

U.S. Attorney Grossman said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

October 26, 2022 0 comments

US and World News

Seoul says allies agree ‘unparalleled’ response needed to a N. Korea nuclear test

by Reuters October 26, 2022

By: Reuters

By Kiyoshi Takenaka

TOKYO (Reuters) – South Korea said on in Wednesday it had agreed with the United States and Japan that a resumption of nuclear testing by North Korea would have to be met with an “unparalleled” response.

Washington and its allies believe North Korea could be about to resume nuclear bomb testing for the first time since 2017, but experts say they have few good options for preventing or responding to such a move.

South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong discussed the issue with his Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Tokyo.

“We agreed that an unparalleled scale of response would be necessary if North Korea pushes ahead with a seventh nuclear test,” he told a joint news conference.

The United States and its allies have offered few details on what new measures they might take in response to a resumption of nuclear testing, which State Department spokesman Vedant Patel reiterated on Wednesday would be “grave escalatory action” that would “seriously threaten regional stability.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told an event hosted by Bloomberg that Washington and its allies were working to strengthen their defences and would work with countries, including at the United Nations, “to exert appropriate pressure on North Korea.”

North Korea’s last nuclear test concerned China and Russia to the extent that they backed toughened United Nations Security Council sanctions, but it is unclear if they would do so again, given the dire state of U.S. relations with both Moscow and Beijing due to the war in Ukraine and tensions over Taiwan.

In May, China and Russia vetoed a U.S.-led push to impose more U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its repeated missile launches, publicly splitting the U.N. Security Council for the first time since it started punishing Pyongyang in 2006.

When asked about a possible nuclear test by North Korea, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Wednesday: “Let’s solve problems as they arrive. I wouldn’t speculate before anything happens. But, of course, the prospect of it is not very welcome.”

At the news conference in Tokyo Sherman urged North Korea to “refrain from further provocations,” calling them “reckless and deeply destabilising for the region.

“Anything that happens here, such as a North Korean nuclear test … has implications for the security of the entire world,” she said. “We hope indeed that everyone on the Security Council would understand that any use of a nuclear weapon will change the world in incredible ways.”

When asked about the comments in Tokyo, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called on all the countries to acknowledge “the root causes of the long-standing impasse” over North Korea’s weapons programs and take steps to enhance mutual trust and address the concerns of all parties.

North Korea has been carrying out weapons tests at an unprecedented pace this year, firing more than two dozen ballistic missiles, including one that flew over Japan.

At a regular news briefing, Patel declined to detail how Washington would respond to a resumption of North Korean nuclear testing, but said, using the initials of the country’s official name: “We continue to have tools at our disposal to hold the DPRK accountable.”

He referred to U.S. unilateral sanctions in response to North Korean missile launches this year, as well as joint military exercises with Japan and South Korea, which involved a U.S. aircraft carrier for the first time since 2017.

Mori said the United States, South Korea and Japan had committed to “further strengthen deterrence and response capability” and trilateral security cooperation.

On mounting tensions over Taiwan, a self-administered island China claims as its own, Sherman reiterated the U.S. stance that it does not support Taiwan’s independence, but said it would be doing whatever it could to support Taipei and work with Japan and South Korea to ensure it could defend itself.

At a Communist Party meeting this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an acceleration of plans to build a world-class military and said China would never renounce the right to use force to resolve the Taiwan issue.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo, Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Soo-hyang Choi and Josh Smith in Seoul, Eduardo Baptista in Beijing and Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Chang-Ran Kim and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Deepa Babington and Lincoln Feast.)

October 26, 2022 0 comments

US and World News

Australia to train Ukrainian troops, ship more armoured vehicles

by Reuters October 26, 2022

By: Reuters

By Renju Jose

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia said on Thursday it will deploy 70 soldiers to Britain to help train Ukrainian troops there and ship 30 more armoured vehicles to bolster Kyiv’s war against Russia’s invasion.

Thousands have been killed, and homes and factories destroyed, since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, which he calls a “special military operation” to rid its neighbour of extremists.

Ukraine and the West say the fascist allegation is baseless and that the war is an unprovoked act of aggression.

“We expect this now to be a protracted conflict,” Defence Minister Richard Marles told ABC television. The latest package takes Australia’s support for Ukraine to about A$655 million ($425 million) since the conflict began in February.

“We’re mindful that Ukraine needs to now be supported over the longer term if we’re going to put Ukraine in a position where it can resolve this conflict on its own terms,” he said.

Australia, one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the West’s support for Ukraine, has been supplying aid and defence equipment and has banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia. It has also placed sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities.

Australian troops, who will arrive in Britain in January, will join a UK-led international training exercise but will not enter the war zone in Ukraine, Marles said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked Australia for the latest aid.

“(The Bushmaster) armoured vehicles have shown excellent results on the battlefield and we requested more of them. We will always remember Australia’s support!,” he said in a tweet.

Ukrainian forces have advanced into Russian-occupied Kherson province, threatening a major defeat for Moscow, amid a high-profile rehearsal for nuclear war by Russia.

Russia has also accused Kyiv of ordering two organisations to create a dirty bomb, an explosive device laced with radioactive material, without giving any evidence. Kyiv denies any such plans.

($1 = 1.5399 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

October 26, 2022 0 comments

US and World News

U.N. lawyer pushes back on Russian row over Iran drone inquiry

by Reuters October 26, 2022

By: Reuters

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The chief U.N. lawyer on Wednesday pushed back on a Russian argument that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cannot report to the Security Council on Western accusations that Moscow used Iran-made drones in Ukraine in violation of a 2015 resolution.

Russia has argued that there is no mandate for Guterres to send U.N. experts to Ukraine to inspect the downed drones. Tehran denies supplying the drones to Moscow and Russia has denied its forces used Iranian drones to attack Ukraine.

Guterres reports twice a year to the council – traditionally in June and December – on the implementation of a 2015 council resolution that enshrines the Iran nuclear deal. Any assessment of the drones in Ukraine would be included in that report.

In preparing those reports, U.N. experts have long traveled to inspect evidence. As far back as 2017 they traveled to inspect weapons seized by France and the debris of ballistic missiles fired at Saudi Arabia.

“Absent further guidance by the Security Council, the Secretary-General will continue to prepare these reports in the manner that they have been prepared to date,” U.N. legal affairs chief Miguel de Serpa Soares told the Security Council.

Western council members could block any attempt by Russia to propose new guidance for Guterres.

Russia had requested de Serpa Soares brief the council on Wednesday, but the move appeared to backfire.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the United States, Britain, France and Germany of violating the U.N. Charter by trying to exert influence over Guterres with written requests that he investigate Russia’s use of drones in Ukraine.

“The Secretariat serves solely as a contact point,” told the Security Council. “The Secretary-General’s report can reflect solely the fact that the letters were received.”

Russia said last week that it will reassess cooperation with Guterres if he sends experts to inspect the drones. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said U.N. experts were always ready to examine and analyze information from U.N. states.

Under the 2015 resolution, a conventional arms embargo on Iran was in place until October 2020.

But Ukraine and Western powers argue that the resolution still includes restrictions on missiles and related technologies until October 2023 and can encompass the export and purchase of advanced military systems such as drones.

U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Robert Wood described Russia’s argument that Guterres could not investigate as “dumbfounding” and accused Moscow of wasting the Security Council’s time “to deflect attention from its own egregious wrongdoing.”

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Richard Pullin)

October 26, 2022 0 comments

US and World News

U.S. Supreme Court’s Kagan blocks Jan. 6 panel from getting Arizona Republican’s records

by Reuters October 26, 2022

By: Reuters

By Nate Raymond and Andrew Chung

(Reuters) -U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan on Wednesday temporarily blocked the congressional committee investigating last year’s U.S. Capitol attack by then-President Donald Trump’s supporters from obtaining Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward’s phone records while the court further assesses the dispute.

Ward, a Trump ally, had asked the Supreme Court to intervene after lower courts declined to bar telephone carrier T-Mobile from complying with a subpoena issued by the Democratic-led House of Representatives committee seeking three months of her call records. Kagan issued an order effectively putting the litigation on hold and preventing enforcement of the subpoena pending a further order by her or the full court.

Kagan is the justice designated to handle emergency appeals from a group of states including Arizona. Kagan’s order directs the committee to respond to Ward’s request by Friday.

The panel sought the records as part of its investigation into events surrounding the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by Trump supporters who sought to block Congress from certifying his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

The committee last week sent Trump himself a subpoena, which he is expected to contest. Trump, who is considering another run for the presidency in 2024, has accused the panel of waging unfair political attacks on him.

The panel had already been in the process of seeking records concerning Ward, who the panel said participated in multiple aspects of the attempts to interfere with the electoral count.

The records of calls and text exchanges it sought spanned from Nov. 1, 2020, to Jan. 30, 2021, and covered a period when Ward was part of a group of Republicans who falsely presented themselves as Arizona’s presidential electors.

Her lawyers argued that providing the panel access to her telephone and text message records would violate Republicans’ constitutional rights to free association by giving the committee access to names of party members who spoke with her.

U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa in Arizona on Sept. 22 said Ward provided no evidence to support her claims that producing the records would chill Republicans’ rights or result in harassment of those who interacted with her.

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Oct. 22 declined to put the subpoena on hold while Ward appealed.

The committee also has subpoenaed Ward herself as one in a group of people who it said had knowledge of or participated in efforts to send false “alternate electors” to Washington for Trump as Congress prepared to certify the election results.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)

October 26, 2022 0 comments

US and World News

Britain’s car output drops 6% as supply woes persist

by Reuters October 26, 2022

By: Reuters

(Reuters) – British car production dropped 6% in September, an industry body said on Thursday, as the sector continues to bear the brunt of high energy costs, supply-chain snags and component shortages.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 63,125 units were made in Britain in September, nearly half of the levels seen in 2019, before the pandemic hit.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) production grew 16.6% in the month, the SMMT said.

The global exports value of electric vehicles, which represents more than a third of all UK car exports, surged to 7.9 billion pounds ($9.13 billion) from 1.3 billion pounds over the last five years.

In September, SMMT said energy costs have emerged as the single biggest concern for British automotive manufacturers, which have collectively racked up more than 300 million pounds in bills during the year to August.

“In the week the UK gets a new prime minister, the sector is calling on the government to work together to create a competitive business environment for UK automotive manufacturing,” SMMT said.

Britain’s new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who replaced Liz Truss after her brief stint, takes on an economy facing recession at a time when the Bank of England is raising interest rates to tame double-digit inflation.

“Stability, combined with a plan that tackles critical skills shortages, delivers regulatory certainty and brings down the cost of energy in the long-term can help put the UK at the forefront of next-generation automotive manufacturing,” SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said in a statement.

($1 = 0.8655 pounds)

(Reporting by Amna Karimi in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)

October 26, 2022 0 comments

Newer Posts

Older Posts

You can't access this website