US and World News

Trump son-in-law Kushner appears before U.S. House Jan 6 committee

by Reuters
By: Reuters

WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner made a “valuable” appearance on Thursday before the U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, Representative Elaine Luria, a member of the panel, said.

“It was really valuable for us to have the opportunity to speak to him,” Luria told MSNBC. The Democratic representative declined to provide specifics about Kushner’s appearance before the panel via videolink, but said he commented on various reports about events of the day that have already been published.

“He was able to voluntarily provide information to us to verify, substantiate, provide his own take on this different reporting,” she said.

Kushner is the first close relative of the former president known to have spoken to the House Select Committee. He also served as a senior adviser in the Trump White House.

A committee spokesman declined comment.

The Select Committee has conducted hundreds of interviews in its investigation of the attack on the Capitol last year by supporters of Trump as lawmakers were poised to certify the Republican’s defeat in the November 2020 presidential election by Democratic President Joe Biden.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by David Gregorio)

tagreuters.com2022binary_LYNXNPEI2U197-BASEIMAGE

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
US and World News

Laredo CBP Officers Seize Methamphetamine Worth Over $4 Million at Colombia-Solidarity Bridge

by US Border Patrol
By: US Border Patrol

LAREDO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers seized methamphetamine in one enforcement action that totaled over $4,000,000 in street value.

“Officers assigned to our cargo facilities utilize their enforcement expertise to target these high-risk commodities. It has led to the discovery of dangerous hard narcotics,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “Large-scale seizures, such as this one, exemplify our mission priorities in securing the border.”

Containers filled with 219 pounds of methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Colombia-Solidarity Bridge.
Containers filled with 219 pounds of methamphetamine
seized by CBP officers at Colombia-Solidarity Bridge.

The enforcement action occurred on March 25, at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge, after CBP officers encountered a tractor manifesting a shipment of waterproof sealant arriving from Mexico. The 2018 Kenworth tractor and trailer were referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, resulting in the discovery of 219.13 pounds of alleged methamphetamine within the commodity.

The narcotics have an estimated street value of $4,382,744.

CBP seized the narcotics. The case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.

Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on Twitter at @DFOLaredo and on Instagram at @dfolaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles Two ADA Complaints Involving Local Gymnastic Facilities

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

Detroit, MI – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced that it has reached settlements with two local gymnasiums: Gymnastic Training Center of Rochester, Inc., and Great Lakes Elite Gymnastics, Inc. (also known as the Great Lakes Kids Energy Zone). Both facilities offer youth gymnastics programs. The settlements resolve two separate allegations that the centers failed to provide appropriate sign language interpreters or other auxiliary aids to children who are deaf or hard of hearing, thereby excluding them from participation in their programs.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that places of public accommodation, including gymnasiums and other places of exercise or recreation, provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services, such as sign language interpreters, free of charge to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

“No one should be excluded from a place of public accommodation because of a disability, least of all children in our community,” said U.S.  Attorney Dawn N. Ison.  “We appreciate the cooperation of the Gymnastic Training Center and Great Lakes Elite Gymnastics to resolve these complaints and ensure that children who are deaf or hard of hearing can participate in their programs alongside their peers.”

Under the settlement agreements, each facility will adopt new policies and procedures to ensure that no one with a disability is excluded from participation in their programs. In addition, both organizations will ensure that staff is appropriately trained on ADA requirements; ensure that auxiliary aids and services, including sign language interpreters, are provided to children free of charge when necessary for effective communication; include postings within their facilities alerting customers to the availability of auxiliary aids and services; and establish an ADA liaison to ensure compliance with the agreements. Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Luttrell Levingston investigated these complaints and developed the settlement agreements.

The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan was established in 2010 with the mission of prioritizing federal civil rights enforcement. Enforcing the ADA is a top priority of the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. ADA complaints may be emailed to [email protected] or by contacting the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Hotline at (313) 226-9151. For more information on the U.S. Attorney Office’s civil rights efforts, including copies of settlement agreements with Gymnastic Training Center of Rochester, Inc. and Great Lakes Elite Gymnastics, Inc., please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/programs/civil-rights.

More information about the ADA is available at the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) and on the ADA website at www.ada.gov. 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Fresno Man Convicted of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm Faces Additional Escape Charge

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment today against Joel Jose Rueda, 29, of Fresno, charging him with escaping from federal custody, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Rueda was convicted in federal court on April 2, 2021 of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In December 2021, he was transferred from the federal penitentiary in Mendota to the Turning Point Residential Reentry Center, a halfway house in Fresno, to complete the remainder of his prison sentence. On Jan. 18, 2022, he escaped from the halfway house. He was later arrested by law enforcement officers during a traffic stop on March 11, 2022, when he attempted to flee. He later admitted to resisting arrest charges in Fresno County Superior Court and was sentenced to 7 days, with credit for time served. He has been ordered detained on the escape charge and is next scheduled to appear in federal court for arraignment on the indictment on April 4, 2022.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Gilio and Karen Escobar are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Rueda faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Postal worker admits fraud in applying for and receiving veteran benefits

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Taliaferro County, Ga., man has admitted withholding information about his employment with the U.S. Postal Service when applying for and receiving pension benefits from the Veterans Benefits Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Sanford Lamar Edwards, 50, of Crawfordville, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to an Information charging him with False Statements in an application for veterans pension benefits, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The guilty plea subjects Edwards to a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution.

“The VA administers pension funding for former military service members in accordance with guidelines that ensure fiscal responsibility in the recipients’ applications,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Sanford Edwards knew he didn’t qualify for those benefits and applied for them anyway, and he is being held accountable for his deceit.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Edwards served in the U.S. Army until 1995, and in 1997 became employed by the U.S. Postal Service, earning in excess of $65,000 per year. In May 2011, Edwards signed and certified a Veteran’s Application for Compensation and Pension, falsely reporting that he had no income, falsely reporting his home as his only asset, and falsely reporting that he had a medical condition that prevented him from working. Relying on those false representations, the VA approved Edwards’ application and paid him monthly pension benefits totaling $230,000 from May 2011 through January 2022.

Annually during this 10-year period, the VA reminded Edwards of his duty to report any changes to his income or net worth, and Edwards failed to do so.

“This defendant selfishly defrauded a program that is intended to provide much-needed benefits to deserving veterans who are legitimately unable to work,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to ensure those who would steal from veterans and taxpayers are held accountable.”

The case was investigation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Two Sacramento Area Men Indicted for Cocaine Trafficking

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Jose Manuel Chavez Zepeda, 54, of Carmichael, and Denis Zacarias Ponce Castillo, 37, of Sacramento, charging them with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, from at least April 22, 2016, until March 2022, Chavez distributed cocaine in kilogram quantities that he obtained from a source of supply in Mexico connected to the Cartel Jalisco Nuevo Generación (CJNG). Ponce worked for Chavez as one of his larger sub-dealers and later as his “stash pad” manager. In June, 2021, Chavez and Ponce sold a half kilogram of cocaine to a confidential source in Sacramento.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Sacramento Area Intelligence/Narcotics Task Force (SAINT). Assistant U.S. Attorney David Spencer is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Chavez and Ponce face a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Defendant Sentenced for Dog-Fighting Conspiracy and Illegal Possession of a Firearms

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico resident was sentenced today to 37 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to federal charges resulting from a lengthy investigation into a significant multi-state dog fighting conspiracy.

According to court documents, Raymond L. Johnson, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Beginning in November 2019, law enforcement investigated a criminal organization involved in dog fighting based out of Richmond, and extending into Baltimore, Maryland. In late 2020, law enforcement agents executed three residential search warrants in Virginia and one residential search warrant in Maryland, and seized numerous dogs that were being used for organized dogfighting, together with dog-fighting paraphernalia, firearms and ammunition.

During the investigation, Johnson communicated with his co-conspirators about breeding and fighting dogs, past dog fights, coordination of upcoming dog fights, and other topics detailing the business and the brutality of dogfighting. Johnson hosted two dog fights at his residence, videos of which were recovered by law enforcement. Agents executed a search warrant at Johnson’s Henrico residence on November 19, 2020, and recovered 9 pit bull terrier-type dogs with scarring consistent with dog-fighting. Agents also seized other evidence of dog fighting activities at Johnson’s residence, including dog collars, medications, supplies and supplements, and a treadmill used to train dogs for fighting.

Agents also recovered firearms and ammunition from Johnson’s residence, including an AK47 style rifle. As a convicted felon, it was illegal for Johnson to possess those firearms and ammunition.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Todd Kim, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division; and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; made the announcement after sentencing by Senior United States District Judge Robert E. Payne.

Special assistance was provided by the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force and the United States Marshals Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony and Trial Attorneys Banu Rangarajan and William Shapiro with the Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section, are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr -108

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Serial Bank Robbery Suspect Federally Charged

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

An Albuquerque man suspected of committing a string of bank robberies across Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Mississippi, and California has been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

Fernando Enriquez, 35, was charged via criminal complaint on Wednesday with one count of bank robbery. He made his initial appearance Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge John R. Parker.

According to the complaint, on Tuesday, Mr. Enriquez allegedly entered a Chase Bank in Abilene, Texas, brandished a firearm, demanded cash from the teller, and then fled the scene.

The teller, who activated her silent alarm during the robbery, later described the suspect as a heavy-set Hispanic man wearing a face mask, grey hoodie, jeans, and a baseball cap.

A witness who was inside the bank during the incident used his phone to record video footage of the suspect exiting the bank and entering a white Chevrolet suburban bearing Mississippi license plates. He immediately turned the video over to law enforcement.

Forty-five minutes later, Texas DPS and Abilene Police Department officers pulled over the suburban in Merkel, Texas and detained Mr. Enriquez and his girlfriend, Crystal Quispe. Inside the vehicle, officers found a firearm, a gray hoodie, baseball cap, and a significant sum of U.S. currency.

Law enforcement transported Mr. Enriquez and Ms. Quispe to the Abilene Police Department, where Ms. Quispe told FBI agents that over the past 14 months, she and Mr. Enriquez have lived in Arizona, Mississippi, New Mexico, and California. She stated that though Mr. Enriquez was not employed most of that time, he always seemed to have cash on hand.

She told officers that prior to the robbery, Mr. Enriquez left her and his children at a motel, stating he had to fill the car with gas. When he returned, she said, he rushed to get the vehicle loaded and leave. She described Mr. Enriquez’s driving during their departure from Abilene as faster and more erratic than usual.

Based on physical description and the modus operandi, investigators believed that the suspect who committed the Abilene robbery may have committed similar robberies in Arizona, Mississippi, New Mexico, and California. They showed Ms. Quispe two photographs from the other bank robberies, both provided by FBI Phoenix. Ms. Quispe identified the man in the photographs as Mr. Enriquez.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Enriquez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. (Ms. Quispe has not been charged with any crimes.)

If convicted, Mr. Enriquez faces up to 25 years in federal prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations’ Phoenix and Dallas Field Offices conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Abilene Police Department, and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Tusing of the Northern District of Texas is prosecuting the case with significant support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Arizona.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Waldoboro Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

PORTLAND Maine: A Waldoboro woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to Social Security fraud and Theft of Public Money, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.

According to court records, from about July 2005 through April 2019, Deborah Moore, 68, a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), concealed the presence of her husband in her household to maintain her eligibility to receive benefit payments. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly. Moore’s husband had sufficient income to render her ineligible for the benefits she received.

In multiple reviews of her eligibility for benefits, Moore falsely represented to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that she and her husband had separated in July 2005 and had lived separately since that time. At an interview with law enforcement agents, Moore admitted to concealing her living situation from SSA because she knew it would make her ineligible to receive SSI.

Moore faces up to five years in prison on the Social Security fraud charge, up to ten years in prison on the Theft of Public Money charge, a fine of up to $250,000 on both charges, and up to three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by SSA’s Office of the Inspector General.

# # #

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Corinth Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

BANGOR, Maine: A Corinth man pleaded guilty in federal court today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.

According to court records, the FBI and the Denton, Texas Police Department were tasked with finding Francis Cahill, aka Bruce Cossett, 73, and learned that he may have moved to Maine. The Maine State Police was asked to help in determining his location. Cahill was subsequently located at his residence in Corinth and arrested by the Maine State Police. During a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Cahill admitted that he possessed two firearms in his residence. A subsequent search of Cahill’s residence uncovered a .22 caliber rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun. Cahill is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 1978 conviction in Texas for murder.

Cahill faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, if the Court determines that Cahill is an armed career criminal, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. He also faces up to three years of supervised release. Cahill will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI; the Denton, Texas Police Department; the Maine State Police; and the ATF investigated the case. The Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the case.

###

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

USAO hosts roundtable on cyberintrusion safety measures

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

HOUSTON – Local critical infrastructure partners and area business owners have participated in a training session to increase cybersecurity posture and awareness on how to tackle such cyberattacks, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.   

The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), hosted the roundtable training today in order to educate private industry partners on what to do in the event of a cyberattack upon their businesses. 

“We are excited to partner with HSI and other federal agencies to help protect Houston’s often vulnerable critical infrastructure assets,” said Lowery. “From our international airports, unique power grid and robust oil and gas sector, Houston is home to some of the country’s most valuable assets.”

“As criminal organizations and other bad actors become more sophisticated in their ability to launch cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure and private business, it is crucial for HSI to work closely with our federal partners and the private sector to develop resilient and adaptive defenses against malicious cyberspace activity and network intrusions,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson. “Hosting today’s roundtable with the USAO was an important step, and we will continue to seek opportunities to enhance collaboration with our law enforcement partners and other stakeholders to prevent potential network intrusions and ensure greater unity of effort in response to cyber incidents.”

On a weekly basis, numerous cyberattacks occur on businesses all across the Southern District of Texas. There must be a quick response team in place to immediately address the intrusion in order to circumvent major damage and losses. The USAO routinely works with other prosecutors and law enforcement in the district to stay ahead of potential cyber threats. 

As the global economy enters day 35 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, businesses must be reminded to be diligent about their networks and to know their response plans, have a paper copy available and review their cyber-related insurance policies.

The USAO has established contact lines for assistance 24 hours a day. If you have fallen victim to an intrusion, inadvertently diverted funds to an unknown third-party or suffered a ransomware attack, please email ([email protected]) directly or call the hotline at 713-542-5213.  

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Biotechnology Firm Director Sentenced for Obstruction of Justice Relating to Attempts to Acquire Ricin

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

BOSTON – The director of advanced research at a Massachusetts biotechnology firm was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for obstructing an investigation into his efforts to acquire the deadly toxin, ricin.

Dr. Ishtiaq Ali Saaem, 37, a Bangladeshi national residing in Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to three years of probation, six months of which will be served on home confinement. Ali Saaem was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,500. The government recommended a sentence of one year in prison. In April 2021, Saaem pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice.

“Dr. Ali Saaem showed callous disregard for public safety and federal authority,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “This prosecution sends a clear message that the attempted procurement of deadly weapons or toxins will be taken as a direct threat against the safety and security of American communities. Thanks to the swift action by authorities, no one was harmed.”

“There is serious cause for concern when anyone tries to acquire a deadly biological toxin such as ricin, but it’s even more troubling when they lie to us about it, like Dr. Ishtiaq Ali Saaem did,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s sentence should be a warning to others that you can’t obstruct a federal investigation and get away with it.”

Saaem held a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, resided in Massachusetts and worked as the director of advanced research at a biotechnology firm based in Massachusetts. Saaem became interested in acquiring ricin from castor beans as well as convallatoxin, a poison found in lily of the valley plants, after watching “Breaking Bad,” a popular television show. Saaem ordered 100 packets of castor beans online, each containing eight seeds. Saaem falsely told law enforcement agents that he purchased castor beans for planting at his apartment for decoration and that he had accidentally purchased 100 packets instead of one. After he spoke to agents, Saaem researched tasteless poisons that could be made at home.

During subsequent meetings with law enforcement, Saeem stated that his interest in buying castor beans related to an interest in gardening. He also made misleading statements about his knowledge of ricin.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Hardy County man guilty of firearms charge

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Gregory Stump, of Moorefield, West Virginia, was found guilty today of a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.

After a two-day trial, Stump, 52, was found guilty of one count of “Possession of Firearm with Obliterated Serial Number.” Stump had a .45 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number in April 2020 in Monongalia County.

Stumps faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Morgantown Police Department investigated.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Louisville Woman Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

LOUISVILLE, KY – A Louisville woman was sentenced on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, to 262 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release for production and possession of child [censored]ography.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

According to court documents, Monica Bradley, 62, produced and possessed child [censored]ography images of five minor victims over the course of multiple years.  Monica Bradley further transported one of the minor victims, beginning when she was only 11 years old, to the residence of her husband, Curtis Bradley, for the purpose of him engaging in sexual contact with the victim.  In return, Curtis Bradley provided Monica Bradley with drugs and cash.  Curtis Bradley was previously sentenced on March 4, 2022, to 50 years in prison followed by a life term of supervised release, for his commission of multiple offenses, including the production and possession of child [censored]ography.

“We will continue to combat the sexual exploitation of children through aggressive federal prosecution,” stated United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett.  “The lengthy sentence imposed, as well as the 50-year sentence previously ordered in the Curtis Bradley case, resulted from our strong working relationship with the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the excellent investigative work of HSI Nashville and LMPD.”   

“The lengthy sentence is a gratifying outcome for our special agents and a testament to the severity and horrific nature of the crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr., Homeland Security Investigations Nashville. “We can only hope that this sentence serves as a part of the lengthy healing process for the victims, and we thank our law enforcement partners for a successful outcome.”

The United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Zimdahl and Christopher Tieke prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

###

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Aroostook County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

BANGOR, Maine:  An Aroostook County man was sentenced in federal court today for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.

U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Zane Willhide, 25, to ten years in prison and five years of supervised release.

According to court records, between approximately July 2018 and May 2019, members of the conspiracy obtained methamphetamine in western and southern states from sources in Mexico. Willhide and his co-conspirators then distributed the drugs in Aroostook County and other parts of central and northern Maine.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case with the assistance of multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

###

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Orange County House Flipper Found Guilty of Filing False Federal Tax Returns That Omitted More Than $2 Million of Income

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

          SANTA ANA, California – A federal jury has found an Orange County real estate investor who successfully flipped foreclosed homes guilty of three federal criminal tax charges, the Justice Department announced today.

          John W. Rampello, 71, of Santa Ana, was found guilty on Wednesday afternoon of two counts of subscribing to a false individual income tax return and one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false individual income tax return.

          United States District Judge David O. Carter has scheduled a June 27 sentencing hearing, at which time Rampello will face a statutory maximum sentence of nine years in federal prison.

          According to evidence presented at his seven-day trial, Rampello, along with his business partners, was an established and successful property flipper of foreclosed homes in Orange County since the mid-1990s. During the tax years 2014 through 2016, Rampello and his partners flipped approximately 170 homes and defendant’s portion of the profits was approximately $2.1 million.

          Rampello and his business partners kept detailed records of their property flip activities, including the profits Rampello made on each property. But Rampello concealed this information from his income tax return preparers and did not tell them that he was involved in the property flipping business.

          As a result of his omission of his property flipping income from his 2014, 2015, and 2016 individual income tax returns, Rampello underreported his federal income taxes by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

          IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter.

          Assistant United States Attorney James C. Hughes of the Major Frauds Section and Assistant United States Attorney Brett A. Sagel of the Santa Ana Branch Office are prosecuting this case.

          This case was the result of a whistleblower. If you have information on tax law violations, please provide it to IRS at https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Dracut Construction Business Owner Sentenced for Tax Fraud

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

BOSTON – The owner of a commercial and residential construction business in Dracut was sentenced yesterday for an income diversion and payroll tax scheme resulting in a tax loss that exceeded $1 million.

James P. Enwright, 53, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to three years of probation with the first year under home incarceration. The government recommended a sentence of two years in prison. On March 2, 2021, Enwright pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of failure to pay over taxes.

Enwright owned and operated Enwright Construction for over 20 years. From 2013 through 2018, Enwright withheld from his tax preparer over $2.8 million of Enwright Construction’s gross receipts. In addition, during the tax quarters ending March 31, 2013 through Sept. 30, 2019, Enwright paid over $3 million in wages to his employees in cash “under the table.” As a result of his conduct, Enwright underreported his personal income tax obligations and failed to report and pay the IRS the employment taxes owed on the cash wages. In total, Enwright caused a loss to the IRS of $1,025,312.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Boston Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Former Puerto Rico Legislator and Two Capitol Employees Plead Guilty to Bribery and Kickback Scheme

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A former Puerto Rico legislator and two employees who worked in his office pleaded guilty this week to engaging in a bribery and kickback scheme.

Nelson Del Valle Colón, 56, of Dorado, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll to one count of federal program bribery.  Mildred Estrada-Rojas, 55, of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and her daughter, Nickolle Santos-Estrada, 32, also of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty yesterday before Judge Carreño-Coll, each to one count of federal program bribery.

“We will continue to prosecute public officials whose conduct undermines the public’s trust in the government,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “Public corruption destroys the trust we have in our elected officials, which is essential for democracy to thrive. Now the defendants will be held accountable for violating one of the basic tenets of public trust, that is, serving their constituents with integrity and honesty.”

“Public corruption investigations require hard work and dedication. They take time to complete, because they are sensitive and complex in nature,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of The FBI San Juan Field Office. “Today’s result is another example of how our steadfast commitment to doing the right thing, the right way pays dividends in justice to the people of Puerto Rico. Special thanks to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, for their continued support to the FBI mission.”

According to court documents, Del Valle Colón was elected to be a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives in 2016.  He thereafter hired Estrada and Santos to work in his legislative office.  In exchange for their employment and their salaries, however, Estrada and Santos paid biweekly kickbacks to Del Valle Colón of between approximately $500 and $1,300 from early 2017 until July 2020.

According to admissions made in connection with their pleas, Del Valle Colón, Estrada, and Santos admitted that they paid and he received the biweekly kickbacks in a variety of ways.  Estrada and Santos generally paid their biweekly cash kickbacks in an envelope that they provided to Del Valle Colón in an office in the Capitol Building in Old San Juan.  Estrada sometimes paid her kickback to Del Valle Colón over ATH Móvil, a mobile phone cash transfer application.  Another individual who worked for Del Valle Colón in his legislative office also agreed to pay Del Valle Colón biweekly cash kickbacks during this individual’s employment with Del Valle Colón.

Del Valle Colón is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, and Estrada, and Santos on June 29, and each faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph González of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office made the announcement.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s San Juan Field Office.

Trial Attorney Jonathan E. Jacobson of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Anderson from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case.

###

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Sacramento Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gabriel Arauza, 33, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 17 and a half years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Arauza was arrested on Aug. 29, 2018, after law enforcement officers found 30.5 pounds of methamphetamine at his residence in Sacramento. Arauza has previously been convicted on four separate occasions for felony drug offenses, including California state drug trafficking convictions in 2013 and 2015.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Lee and Aaron Pennekamp prosecuted the case.

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

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Statement from U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee on International Transgender Day of Visibility

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee today released the following statement in recognition of International Transgender Day of Visibility:

“As I have had the opportunity to meet transgender Mainers throughout the state, I have been impressed by their sincerity, creativity, and desire to enjoy all that Maine offers, but I have been shocked and saddened by the horrific accounts of discrimination, harassment and violence they have experienced.

Today, on a day when we should be celebrating the contributions of transgender Mainers, we instead face an epidemic of violence and discrimination directed towards their community. Here in Maine, fear or hatred of the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identification is the motivation behind nearly half of all hate crimes reported according to FBI statistics.

We are committed to engaging in a meaningful dialogue with the transgender community in Maine, both to show support and increase public safety. We strive to build trust in our office and in law enforcement to foster an environment where the reporting of hate crimes feels safe. We will work to build new and lasting partnerships. We recognize that we can all do better in seeing, hearing, and respecting people for who they are.

Ensuring that all Mainers are treated fairly and with respect, and in accordance with federal law, is among the highest priorities of my office.”

# # #

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Former Catholic Priest Sentenced for Making False Statements in Connection With Church Sex Abuse Investigation

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Robert Brennan, 83, of Perryville, MD, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Anita B. Brody to five years of probation, the first two years of which will be served on home confinement with location monitoring, for lying to investigators about not knowing a former parishioner and victim of sexual abuse.

In November 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to making materially false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the United States government. The charges stem from an interview conducted in April 2019, during which Brennan was questioned by the FBI and made a number of false statements.

Brennan had served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1993 to 2004 as a priest at Resurrection of Our Lord parish in the Rhawnhurst section of Northeast Philadelphia. In September 2013, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against him, alleging that he had sexually abused a minor, Sean McIlmail, during Brennan’s time at Resurrection. Soon thereafter, in October 2013, Sean McIlmail died of a drug overdose and the criminal charges against Brennan were dismissed.

In November 2013, the McIlmail family filed a civil lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Brennan. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount in May 2018. During the April 2019 interview with the FBI, Brennan made several false statements, including that prior to the filing of the 2013 criminal case and civil lawsuit against him, he did not know Sean McIlmail, his father, mother or brother.

“Holding people accountable for their actions, within the confines of the criminal justice process, is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “With this sentence handed down today, we hope it brings a sense of justice and closure to this case.”

“Lying to the FBI is more than a mistake and beyond a bad choice,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Doing so poses a direct threat to investigations, prosecutions — our entire system of justice. Such ramifications make it a crime for which there have to be some consequences, with violators held appropriately accountable.”  

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

BENTON, Ill. – Eugene Falls, 42, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced on March 31, 2022, to 
405 months’   imprisonment   for   Conspiracy   to   Distribute   and   Possess   with   Intent   
to   Distribute Methamphetamine,  Heroin,  and  Cocaine;  Attempted  Possession  with  the  Intent  
to  Distribute Methamphetamine;  Distribution  of  Heroin;  and  Money  Laundering.    Falls  was  
convicted  of  all charges by a jury on December 2, 2021.   The jury also found that Falls had a 
prior drug conviction that subjected him to an enhanced sentence.
Evidence  established  during  the  trial  and  sentencing  hearing  demonstrated  that  from  
between December  2018  through  March  2019,  Falls  was  responsible  for  receiving  or  
distributing  over  19 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 kilograms of heroin in the Southern District 
of Illinois, and he laundered drug proceeds to conceal his drug distribution operation. He was 
arrested in March 2019 during a deal in which he was attempting to receive another ten pounds of 
methamphetamine.

Falls was previously convicted in the Southern District of Illinois for Conspiracy to Distribute 
Cocaine Base and Distribution of Cocaine Base, and he was still on supervised release for that case 
at the time he committed these new offenses. At the sentencing hearing, Falls faced a mandatory 
minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment as a result of that prior offense. He will be required to serve a 
new 10-year term of supervised release once he completes this term of imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service,
Criminal Investigation.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

“Shooting Boys” Gang Members Charged With Racketeering, Murder, Firearms, And Narcotics Offenses

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Ricky J. Patel, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in New York, announced the unsealing of a fifteen-count indictment today charging ten individuals—ANDREW DONE, a/k/a “Caballo,” VICTOR ALMONTE, a/k/a “Flaco Capone,” MOISES FONTANEZ, a/k/a “Goya,” OLBENY DIAZ, a/k/a “Sosbrito,” FRAILYN CAPELLAN, a/k/a “Frek,” JOEL ORTIZ, a/k/a “Brooklyn,” EDWIN JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Pac,” MALVIN RESTITUYO, a/k/a “Puto,” and ANDERSON BURDIER, a/k/a “Canela,” and JOSEPH RIVERA, a/k/a “Shorty,”—with racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, firearms offenses, and narcotics conspiracy.  The defendants are charged for their roles in the “Shooting Boys” gang and an associated narcotics conspiracy.  Among other crimes, DONE is charged for the November 5, 2020 murder of Angel Barreiro in the Bronx.  The crimes charged against each of the ten defendants are specified in the chart below.  The case is assigned to United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff. 

In a coordinated operation, eight defendants were arrested in New York and Pennsylvania earlier this morning.  The defendants arrested in New York will be presented later this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave in Manhattan federal court.  CAPELLAN will be presented in federal court in Philadelphia.  FONTANEZ was in custody on state charges and was transferred to federal custody today.  DONE and ALMONTE remain at large.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As alleged, the ‘Shooting Boys’ are responsible for a rampage of violence in the Bronx, including a murder and several other shootings.  Today’s arrests will protect the public from these defendants and send a message to others who would commit violence:  law enforcement is watching and you will be prosecuted.”   

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said:  “Dismantling gangs and targeting the illegal acts associated with their activities continues to be one of the highest priorities for the NYPD and our law enforcement partners. Today’s charges again show that we are accurately identifying and arresting the relatively small percentage of people responsible for the majority of the violence in New York – and we will remain relentless in our pursuit of meaningful consequences for these criminals.”

HSI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Ricky J. Patel said:  “The allegations in these indictments show the unrepentant violence of the ‘Shooting Boys’ and their complete disregard for human life. Today, members of violent gangs are put on notice that HSI and the New York City Police Department will not sit idly by as gangs and violent criminals terrorize our communities.  HSI will continue the mission to dismantle violent criminal gangs, and along with the NYPD and its partners, will work together to eradicate the fear caused by these organizations.”

As alleged in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court, and based on statements made in public court proceedings:[1]

The “Shooting Boys” gang is a criminal organization based in the University Heights section of the Bronx.  Since at least 2017, gang members sold drugs, used guns, and committed numerous acts of violence against members of rival gangs.  Originally associated with the “Trinitarios” gang, the “Shooting Boys” broke off from the “Sunset” chapter of the “Trinitarios” in about 2018.  ANDREW DONE, a/k/a “Caballo,” is the leader of the “Shooting Boys.” 

The “Shooting Boys” sold crack, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana primarily in two areas:  near 192nd Street and Aqueduct Avenue, and 155 Father Zeiser Place in the Bronx.  Only members of the “Shooting Boys” and those authorized by them were permitted to sell drugs in these locations and the gang protected its drug territory through violence and intimidation relying primarily on the use of firearms.

In addition to multiple non-fatal acts of violence against rival gang members and innocent bystanders, the rivalry between the “Shooting Boys” and other chapters of the “Trinitarios” led to the murder of Angel Barreiro, a/k/a “Jay La Sombra” on November 5, 2020. The indictment alleges that DONE shot and killed Barreiro opposite 1365 Cromwell Avenue in the Bronx. 

*              *             *

A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum and minimum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and HSI.    

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile, Adam S. Hobson, Jamie Bagliebter, and James Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

CHARGE

DEFENDANTS

MAXIMUM/MINIMUM PENALTIES

Count One

Racketeering Conspiracy

18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)

 

ANDREW DONE,

VICTOR ALMONTE,

MOISES FONTANEZ,

OLBENY DIAZ,

FRAILYN CAPELLAN,

JOEL ORTIZ,

EDWIN JIMENEZ,

MALVIN RESTITUYO, and

ANDERSON BURDIER

Maximum as to all defendants except RESTITUYO: Life in prison

Maximum as to RESTITUYO: 20 years in prison

 

 

Count Two

Murder in Aid of Racketeering

18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1)

 

ANDREW DONE

 

Mandatory life in prison or death

 

Count Three

Murder through Use of a Firearm

18 U.S.C. § 924(j)

 

ANDREW DONE

 

Maximum: Life in prison or death

Minimum: 5 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed.

Count Four

Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering

18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5), 1959(a)(6), 1959(a)(3)

ANDREW DONE

VICTOR ALMONTE

FRAILYN CAPELLAN

 

Maximum: 20 years in prison

Count Five

Firearms Offense

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

ANDREW DONE

VICTOR ALMONTE

FRAILYN CAPELLAN

 

Maximum: Life in prison

Minimum: 10 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed.

Count Six

Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering

18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5), 1959(a)(6), 1959(a)(3)

OLBENY DIAZ

Maximum: 20 years

Count Seven

Firearms Offense

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

OLBENY DIAZ

Maximum: Life in prison

Minimum: 10 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed.

 

Count Eight

Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering

18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5), 1959(a)(3)

MALVIN RESTITUYO

Maximum: 20 years

Count Nine

Firearms Offense

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

MALVIN RESTITUYO

Maximum: Life in prison

Minimum: 10 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed.

 

Count Ten

Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering

18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5), 1959(a)(3)

MOISES FONTANEZ

Maximum: 20 years

Count Eleven

Firearms Offense

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

MOISES FONTANEZ

Maximum: Life in prison

Minimum: 10 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed.

 

Count Twelve

Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering

18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(3)

ANDREW DONE

MOISES FONTANEZ

OLBENY DIAZ

JOEL ORTIZ

Maximum: 20 years

Count Thirteen

Firearms Offense

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

 

ANDREW DONE

MOISES FONTANEZ

OLBENY DIAZ

JOEL ORTIZ

 

Maximum: Life in prison

Minimum: 7 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed.

 

Count Fourteen

Narcotics Conspiracy

21 U.S.C. § 846, 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D),

 

ANDREW DONE

VICTOR ALMONTE

MOISES FONTANEZ

OLBENY DIAZ

FRAILYN CAPELLAN

JOEL ORTIZ

EDWIN JIMENEZ

ANDERSON BURDIER

JOSEPH RIVERA

 

Maximum: Life in prison

Minimum: 10 years in prison

 

Count Fifteen

Firearms Offense

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

 

ANDREW DONE

VICTOR ALMONTE

MOISES FONTANEZ

OLBENY DIAZ

FRAILYN CAPELLAN

JOEL ORTIZ

EDWIN JIMENEZ

ANDERSON BURDIER

JOSEPH RIVERA

 

Maximum: Life in prison

Minimum: 10 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed.

 

 

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Department of Justice Press Releases

Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence

by DOJ Press
By: DOJ Press

Jackson, Miss. –  A Jackson man pled guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to court documents, Waddah Farah, 42, of Jackson, was arrested and indicted for brandishing a firearm during the robbery of a Dollar General store in Jackson on October 1, 2018.    

Farah is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2022, and faces a penalty of not less than seven years to life in prison.  A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jackson Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Murray prosecuted the case.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts

You can't access this website

Shore News Network provides free news to users. No paywalls. No subscriptions. Please support us by disabling ad blocker or using a different browser and trying again.